Trinidad Guardian – Illegal cellphones smuggled into Trinidad and Tobago’s prisons—some loaded with prepaid credit values ranging from TT$8 000 to TT$11 000 (US$1 179 – US$1 621)—are enabling inmates to run criminal networks from behind bars.
Prison Officers’ Association (POA) president Gerard Gordon said the discovery, made during searches by prison and police officers, exposes one of the most serious security threats facing the nation’s correctional facilities.
Despite intensified security measures, prisons continue to serve as hubs for illicit activity, prompting urgent calls to end the flow of contraband that carries serious consequences.
In an interview with the Sunday Guardian, Gordon emphasised that it was time to stop contraband from entering jails.
The daily use of cellphones by inmates has grown so problematic that it contributed to the government declaring a State of Emergency (SoE) on July 18, highlighting the dangers of inmate communication via mobile phones.
Shortly after the SoE announcement, 10 inmates were relocated from the Maximum Security Prison following the uncovering of a plot to assassinate high-ranking government officials.
Many of the illegal phones are smuggled into prisons by rogue officers and remain in high demand. Prisoners reportedly pay between TT$2 000 and TT$4 000 (US$294 – US$589) for a cellphone.
Between January and February of this year, coordinated searches of several cells led to the confiscation of 90 illegal phones by police and prison officers.
Gordon recalled that a telecommunications provider contacted a member of the association’s executive, inquiring about how to address the issue of prisoners holding large prepaid credit on their phones.
Hour-long searches uncovered numerous illegal phones, some loaded with staggering credit amounts—$8,000 (US$1 179), TT$10,000 (US$1 474), and even TT$11,000 (US$1 621). This credit was being replenished by members of the public who knowingly or unknowingly facilitated the illicit activity.
However, while the prisons seized several phones—some with smaller amounts of credit—Gordon did not reveal how many had top-ups worth thousands of dollars.
An employee from a telecommunications provider explained that prepaid top-up cards can be purchased in-store and sent from one phone user to another on the same network. “There is no limit to the number of transactions one can make in a day,” the worker added.
Additionally, credit can be added directly to a phone via in-store outlets, online platforms, or mobile apps, some of which allow top-ups ranging from TT$20 (US $2.95) up to $500 (US $73).
Gordon recounted encounters with people who told him inmates frequently call requesting phone credit. He had to warn them to stop, as assisting prisoners in this way is illegal and could result in criminal charges.
He said inmates would call every member of their family, friends, associates, neighbours and even strangers to “top up their credit” on their illegal phones.
To tackle the problem, he stressed the need to adopt and deploy advanced technologies used in other countries to block illicit communications within prisons. The association questioned whether the jammers, which were designed to block calls, are working or merely for show.
During thorough searches at the Port-of-Spain Prison, officers discovered that prisoners have become incredibly inventive in hiding their phones. They found dummy phones with no SIM cards or batteries, cleverly disguised devices, and even hidden pockets sewn into towels.
The prisoners also dug several holes in a wall where they stashed phones.
The post Illegal prison cellphones loaded with thousands of dollars in credit–POA president appeared first on Barbados Today.