The quiet hills of Maraval, Trinidad, became the unlikely stage for a dramatic police operation this past weekend, as authorities mounted a determined search for two suspects still at large after the daring rescue of Caribbean Airlines pilot Daniel Kawall. The 59-year-old pilot’s ordeal, which began on September 3, 2025, has left the local community both relieved at his safe return and rattled by the violence that unfolded in their midst.
According to Guardian Media, the saga began when Kawall was last seen and heard from on the evening of September 3. The tranquility of the upscale St Ann’s neighborhood was shattered as neighbors on Spring Bank Avenue reported hearing screams and witnessing a scuffle inside Kawall’s gold Toyota Hilux. At least four men were seen in the vehicle, with two assailants allegedly attacking Kawall from the back seat before the van sped off into the night.
As the hours ticked by, concern for Kawall’s safety mounted. The next morning, residents in Mt Hololo spotted the pilot’s Toyota Hilux parked along Hololo Road, Cascade. They promptly reported the abandoned vehicle to the police, but, as one resident told Guardian Media, “We saw the van Thursday morning, and the report was made to the police, but the police never came. Then the van disappeared. Whoever brought the van there took it back.” The police later found the vehicle burnt out at Eccles Trace, Grant Road Extension, Rousillac, deepening the mystery and the community’s anxiety.
In the days following Kawall’s disappearance, his abductors issued a chilling ransom demand of US$1 million (or TT$1 million, as reported by TravelMole), though police commissioner Allister Guevarro neither confirmed nor denied whether any payment was made. The motivation behind the kidnapping remains unclear, with authorities releasing few details about why the pilot was targeted. What is certain is that the pressure was mounting on both the family and the police as the days dragged on without news of Kawall’s whereabouts.
A breakthrough came on Friday night, September 5, when two suspects were caught using Kawall’s bank card to withdraw cash from an ATM in Maraval. This crucial lead intensified the police search, prompting a coordinated effort by the Trinidad Anti-Kidnapping Unit and other tactical teams. By Sunday, September 7, the operation had zeroed in on a hideout at Third Street, Maraval. There, officers stormed an apartment where Kawall was being held captive.
According to TravelMole, the police operation was swift and decisive. One of the suspects, identified as 33-year-old Rahiem Felix, was shot dead during the raid. Two more suspects were arrested at the scene, but the remaining two managed to escape into the unforgiving hills surrounding Maraval. Senior police officials described the terrain as “unforgiving,” vowing not to give up the hunt for those still at large.
The aftermath of the rescue was stark. Blood stains marked the apartment door where Kawall had been kept, and the interior was left ransacked. Adjacent units in the abandoned complex were found open, raising concerns among residents about site security in the wake of the operation. Some neighbors, still shaken, expressed their relief at Kawall’s safe return but admitted that the incident had left them unsettled. “We’re shocked that such an incident occurred in our neighborhood,” one resident told Guardian Media, requesting anonymity.
The operation’s success was due in no small part to the collaboration between the Trinidad Anti-Kidnapping Unit and other law enforcement teams. Yet, the community’s lingering concerns highlight the delicate balance between relief and vigilance. The fact that the site of the rescue was left unsecured after the raid was a point of contention for some, who worried about the potential for further incidents or evidence being lost.
Meanwhile, the police’s response to the initial vehicle sighting at Mt Hololo has come under scrutiny. Residents maintain that their early warnings went unheeded, a claim that runs counter to statements made by Police Commissioner Guevarro. The disconnect has fueled frustration among locals, who feel that a swifter response might have altered the course of events.
Little has been revealed about the inner workings of the rescue operation or the precise motives behind Kawall’s kidnapping. As TravelMole notes, authorities have kept many details under wraps, perhaps to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation or out of concern for public safety. What is known is that the suspects used Kawall’s bank card in both Maraval and Port of Spain, suggesting a level of coordination and boldness that has alarmed many in the community.
The broader context of kidnapping in Trinidad and Tobago adds another layer to the story. While the country has made significant strides in combating organized crime, high-profile abductions like this one serve as stark reminders of the challenges that remain. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit, established to tackle such crimes, has been credited with several successful rescues in recent years. However, each new case tests the limits of law enforcement and the resilience of affected communities.
For Caribbean Airlines, the incident has cast a shadow over its close-knit staff. Pilots and crew members, already accustomed to the pressures of their profession, now face the added worry of personal security. The airline has yet to comment publicly on the ordeal, but colleagues of Kawall are said to be relieved and grateful for his safe return.
As of September 8, 2025, the search for the remaining two suspects continues. Police have pledged to maintain their efforts despite the challenging terrain and the suspects’ apparent familiarity with the area. The hope is that, with time and persistence, those responsible will be brought to justice and the community’s sense of safety restored.
For now, Maraval residents are left to process the events that unfolded in their midst. The rescue of Daniel Kawall stands as a testament to the determination of law enforcement and the vigilance of concerned citizens. Yet, the unanswered questions—about motive, response, and the fate of those still at large—serve as a sobering reminder that security, once shaken, is not easily regained.
As the hills of Maraval return to their usual quiet, the scars of recent days remain, a silent testament to the ordeal endured by one man and the community that rallied, however imperfectly, to bring him home.