Police are continuing their investigations into the death of a former colleague, who died in custody while awaiting extradition to the United States on cocaine trafficking and firearms charges.
Police said that Raphael Joseph, 32, was pronounced dead at the Arima Hospital on Wednesday morning after he was found unresponsive in a separation cell at the prison. A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted next week to determine the cause of deathHe was among three Trinidad and Tobago nationals arrested on December 30, 2025, during a joint operation involving the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Vetted Unit, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Special Investigative Unit (SIU) and the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU).
The others arrested were Michael McSween and Clevon Persad. They were wanted under provisional arrest warrants issued in connection with an indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
They were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, along with firearms-related offences, arising from a 2024 DEA investigation.