Officer Detained Over Criminal Group Links
A police officer from a specialised unit was among two people detained on Monday under Prevention of Detention Orders (PDOs) tied to an ongoing investigation into businessman Danny Guerra. Authorities say the detainees will be held at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre as the investigation continues; one PDO alleges an organised criminal group planned an assassination and has access to high-powered firearms.
A serving police officer attached to a specialised unit was among two people detained on Monday after officers executed Prevention of Detention Orders (PDOs), local media and police sources report. The two detainees are being held at the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre (ECRC) in Santa Rosa while inquiries continue.
Police sources told the Express the arrests are linked to the ongoing probe into businessman Danny Guerra, who was detained on November 19 under a PDO dated the same day. The PDO obtained by the Express names Guerra as the leader of an organised criminal group (OCG) as defined by the Anti-Gang Act, 2021.
The order alleges the OCG is involved in trafficking illegal arms, money laundering and illegal quarrying, and that it has access to a cache of high-powered firearms. The PDO states: "The detainee and others intend to imminently execute the assassination of a Government Minister and to escalate attacks against rival gangs in public spaces using high-powered firearms." It adds that detention was necessary to disrupt the group's operational planning and to prevent further acts of violence that pose a clear and present threat to public safety.
The PDO for Guerra was issued under Regulation 14 of the Emergency Powers Regulations, 2025, and was signed by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander. The officer arrested on Monday has not yet had a PDO gazetted, according to available reports. The Express also reports that two other PDOs were signed and expected to be published shortly.
Those named are Josiah Stafford, alleged to be an associate of the Mt Hope faction of the Seven Gang, and Josiah Mansano, alleged leader of the Six Gang faction of Mt Hope. The current detentions follow a major police operation on October 9 at Manuel Congo, Guanapo, where officers said they shut down an illegal quarry and seized a multimillion-dollar processing plant, trucks and heavy machinery.
Quarry operator Danny Guerra, his son Garvin Guerra and 16 others were detained during that raid. Guerra and his son were later charged with processing aggregate without the required licence and were granted bail of $50,000 each by a Justice of the Peace on October 11. The developments underline the use of emergency powers and anti-gang legislation in recent operations.
Officials have not yet provided a full public update on the officer’s status or on the wider investigation. Residents should expect further information as authorities proceed and documents are gazetted.
Primary source: VINO