A new UK report has claimed that more than 180 criminal gangs are operating across Trinidad and Tobago, with many concentrated in urban communities around Port of Spain and along the east-west corridor. The report, issued by the UK Home Office in June, states that gangs are responsible for around one-third of homicides in the country as of 2025.

According to the UK report, the most prominent gangs identified are the Muslims and Rasta City. However, the Home Office noted that Trinidad and Tobago’s gang landscape differs significantly from countries such as El Salvador, where major gangs once exercised widespread control over large parts of the country.

The UK report said that while gangs in Trinidad and Tobago influence within certain communities, many operate on a much smaller scale, with some controlling only a single street. The Home Office estimates that the country’s gangs collectively have around 1,750 members, representing less than one per cent of the national population.

The report compared the local gang situation to that of El Salvador, but concluded that the circumstances are not the same. It stated that gangs in Trinidad and Tobago are not considered political actors, despite reports that some gang leaders have benefited from government contracts in specific communities. The Home Office found no evidence that such influence is widespread, systematic, or extends beyond areas under gang control.

The UK report also examined how gang-related fears may affect asylum claims. It stated that individuals who openly oppose gangs, refuse to comply with gang demands, or publicly challenge gang leaders could be viewed as belonging to a particular social group under the Refugee Convention. However, it stressed that membership in such a group alone is not enough to qualify for refugee status. Applicants must still demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution.

The findings come months after the United Kingdom imposed a visitor visa requirement on nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. Introduced on March 12, 2025, the policy ended decades of visa-free travel for short visits. UK authorities said the decision was driven by a rise in asylum claims and concerns over misuse of the country’s immigration system.