An assassination plot against Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and several ministers was foiled by local security forces.

Nearly a dozen people, including members of the army and police, had been arrested in connection with the plot, Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs said. We are still working through what we have and working out the threats to our national security, he said.

Police conducted several road block exercises throughout the nine policing divisions in the country, particularly in and around all areas leading to Port of Spain. The road block exercises caused massive traffic pile-ups as several parts of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway were cordoned off as police searched persons and vehicles

Trinidad and Tobago is a top Caribbean gas and oil producer and a leading supplier of liquefied natural gas to the United States.

The government said in August that it was imposing a state of emergency in the country in response to intelligence information which, it said, could not be shared with the public. The country has been under the state of emergency since then, with an increased presence of police and army troops on the streets.

Since August, more than 7,000 people have been arrested on charges of drug dealing, gang activities, homicide and other serious offenses, according to officials.