In a dramatic turn of events that gripped Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean Airlines pilot Daniel Kawall was rescued by police on the morning of September 7, 2025, after being held captive for four days. The high-stakes operation, which unfolded at an apartment complex in Maraval on the outskirts of Port-of-Spain, ended with one suspect dead, three others in custody, and two still on the run. The rescue, lauded by officials as a testament to law enforcement's resolve, comes amid a surge of violent crime and a state of emergency in the nation.
Kawall, 59 (some reports list his age as 62), a respected pilot and businessman from Palm Road, North Valsayn, vanished on September 3, 2025. According to Guardian Media, he was last seen that day, and his gold Toyota Hilux was later found abandoned in Rousillac. The disappearance sparked immediate concern, especially after a ransom demand of US$1 million (or TT$1 million, according to some outlets) was reportedly made by the kidnappers on September 5.
The intense search for Kawall came to a head on Sunday morning. Acting on intelligence, a multi-agency police team—including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), Inter-Agency Task Force, Special Intelligence Unit, Port-of-Spain Task Force, Western Division Task Force, and Air Support Unit—stormed the two-storey apartment building on Cedar Ridge Private Road, Maraval. Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, who was on site, described the rescue as a "precision-led and coordinated effort" that exemplified the TTPS’s commitment to public safety. As officers breached the premises around 11 a.m., they found Kawall bound hand and foot. He was immediately taken to Port-of-Spain General Hospital for medical attention.
"He is safe," Commissioner Guevarro assured, adding that Kawall’s vital signs were good, though his hands were badly bruised from being restrained. Later, speaking to Newsday, Guevarro confirmed, "Yes, he is (in good spirits). I spoke with him personally. He's doing great." By September 8, Kawall had been reunited with his family and was reportedly in good condition both physically and mentally.
The rescue was not without violence. As officers moved in, one of Kawall’s captors, identified as Rahiem Felix—who had just celebrated his 33rd birthday on September 4—engaged police in a confrontation and was fatally shot. Felix was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly thereafter. Commissioner Guevarro did not mince words about the risks of criminal activity, stating, "I hope this would serve as a warning to other persons who wish to engage in that sort of illegality. The time has come to change. The tide is now. Please turn away from crime and look towards profitable, legal means of making a living. This end is not for you."
Three suspects were apprehended in connection with the kidnapping between Saturday night and midday Sunday. According to Trinidad Express, two of the suspects were detained after they attempted to use Kawall’s bank card at a Republic Bank ATM in Maraval. The men, aged 50 and 24, were apprehended near the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) after their suspicious activity was flagged. The third suspect was picked up during the rescue operation itself. However, two additional suspects managed to flee into nearby bushes as police closed in, prompting a continued manhunt led by Guevarro and Deputy Commissioner Suzette Martin with both aerial and ground searches.
Residents of Third Street, Maraval, were stunned by the police presence, reporting to Trinidad Express that they had noticed nothing unusual in their neighborhood until the morning of the rescue. One resident remarked, "The only activity I saw here this week was the police today. For the entire week, we did not see anything strange at all." The apartment complex where Kawall was held, which contained eight units and was occupied by other tenants, was described as not particularly well maintained but offering a commanding view of the area.
The rescue operation has not been without controversy. Some residents of Hololo, Cascade, claimed that police failed to respond promptly to their reports of Kawall’s abandoned vehicle and sounds of distress on the night of his abduction. Commissioner Guevarro pushed back, saying, "There is a lot of misinformation being bandied about by social media, and by persons who utilise social media as a media house." Still, members of the local crime and emergency alert WhatsApp group insisted their concerns were legitimate and that a swifter response might have led to an earlier rescue.
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander praised the police for their actions, telling Trinidad Express, "I want to publicly commend the Commissioner of Police and his team for another successful rescue of a kidnap victim. It shows that the police understand that this is not a fight against crime; it is a war." He urged young people to seize opportunities and turn away from crime, echoing the Commissioner’s warning that law enforcement would meet such criminality with "the requisite force, resolve, and the full weight of the law."
This incident is the second high-profile kidnapping rescue in Trinidad and Tobago in recent weeks. On July 21, police freed Jankie Satie Karim after she was held captive for eight days, an operation that also ended with suspects shot and killed. The country remains under a state of emergency as authorities battle a surge in violent crime, with kidnapping for ransom—a crime that had previously receded—now sparking renewed concern.
Police have not disclosed whether any of the ransom demanded for Kawall's release was paid. Commissioner Guevarro, pressed by reporters, said, "I cannot say that at this time," citing the sensitivity of the investigation and ongoing efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects. He also declined to specify why Kawall may have been targeted, noting, "That is some sensitive information that if I release to the public, we would have other problems to deal with after."
The successful rescue of Daniel Kawall stands as a stark reminder of both the dangers faced by citizens and the determination of Trinidad and Tobago’s law enforcement to combat violent crime. As the search continues for the two suspects still at large, officials hope the outcome will deter future kidnappings and restore a measure of public confidence in the country's security apparatus.