BY PETER GREEN
Mc Donald Jacob, former acting Commissioner of Police, has admitted in a sworn statement that it was he who sent four police officers to Barbados to bring firearms dealer Brent Thomas back to Trinidad on October 5, 2022.
But no where in his affidavit did Jacob say who gave permission for the four police officers to use a regional aircraft to take the officers to Barbados and return with their prisoner.
The following is an excerpt from Jacob’s affidavit dated July 18, 2025:
“I appointed Asst Supt Lancaster Ellis to spearhead a team from the Criminal Investigations Department, the CID, with a mandate to conduct an internal audit of the records of the Firearms section of the TTPS.
“On the 22nd of October 2022, Senior Supt (Suzette) Martin contacted me and provided me with information that Brent Thomas, one of the firearms dealers under investigation, had planned to flee the jurisdiction although Brent Thomas had indicated that he was going to see his doctor in Miami.
DCP Suzette Martin
“I advised her to contact the Special Investigations Unit and obtain assistance with surveillance. I also asked her to get in touch with Asst Supt George Laldeo, head of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit for further assistance.
“On the 3rd of October 2022, Senior Supt Martin again contacted me and informed me that Brent Thomas had evaded surveillance and that she had further information confirming that he intended to flee the country.
“On the 5th of October 2022, acting Supt Laldeo visited my office and informed me that he had information that Brent Thomas was already in Barbados and had volunteered to return to Trinidad to negate the procedure for extradition.
He also informed me that he had made arrangements through the Ministry of National Security with the Joint Regional Communications Centre and Caricom IMPACTS to facilitate his return.
“I contacted Sen Supt Martin and held a tele conference. She indicated that she had engaged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and obtained advice. As a result of that advice, six warrants were obtained for the arrest of Brent Thomas.
Firearms dealer Brent Thomas
She further indicated that intelligence revealed that he (Thomas) had intentions of travelling to Greece., a country with which Trinidad and Tobago had no extradition treaty.
“Acting Supt Baldeo indicated to me that the method they were using to secure the return of Brent Thomas was customary once the person had volunteered to return.
At the request of the acting Supt Laldeo, I signed documents permitting Laldeo, Senior Supt Martin, Asst Supt Birch, and acting Corporal Joefield to leave the country for the sole purpose of facilitating the return of Brent Thomas.
They were to travel to Barbados on the JRCC plane. Acting Supt Laldeo informed me that the officers were not actually entering Barbados but would be meeting Brent Thomas on the tarmac.
“On the 6th of October 2022, I received an official report from Sen Supt Martin regarding the return of Brent Thomas and gave me additional information pertaining to the investigation.”
While the Prime Minister is considering a Commission of Inquiry to determine the facts of this entire episode, the file on who gave the orders for the plane, is missing from the then Ministry of National Security.
