Yes, we had a security breach

General Manager of Operations at TTPost Franklin Ali yesterday confirmed that there had been a breach in the security systems at one of TTPost’s 47 delivery sites, which allowed a bag of mail to end up in the hands of a “special interest group”, and prompted allegations that TTPost employees were involved with helping  kidnappers locate and target potential victims.

Ali made the admission as he addressed reporters at a press conference held at TTPost’s Mail Centre, Golden Grove Road, Piarco, yesterday. The press conference sought to deal with the current issue and resulting statements/allegations which have been made by concerned citizens and groups who were now questioning the company’s integrity. Ali refused to divulge the delivery site which had suffered the security breach, on the grounds that the matter was now being investigated by the police, but added that an extensive investigation had been launched involving an internal review of the company’s security process and quality control systems.

He attested to TTPost’s strict adherence to quality control, but also stated that “no major breach in the security systems throughout the network” had been found following a two-week national review of the Transportation Processing and Delivery Systems, as well as the Quality Control and Security Systems. He revealed that senior police officials on Saturday received a large envelope with a quantity of mail, from a member linked to a special interest group. Asked to explain the circumstances surrounding the discarded bag of mail which ended up in the hands of the concerned group, Ali replied “What I can clearly say is that our national delivery system is comprised of 47 sites, and yes, in all honesty, at one of those physical locations...apparently there was a breach in the security process that we had put in place.”

Questioned as to whether or not TTPost would be taking legal action against Fuad Khan and the Guardian Angels for their possession of the mail, as they too can be accused of tampering with the mail, Ali avoided a direct answer. Instead, he stated, “The point is very clear, TTPost is responsible for handling mail, and we have not abdicated that responsibility to any organisation. The fact that the mail was taken by some unknown party to a certain individual, who later handed it over to the police, that has been discussed with senior officers and they are investigating and will of course, do what is necessary.” Could the mail have possibly been stolen by an employee of the company?

Ali revealed that both himself and the security manager had met with two senior police officials who later agreed that they would go ahead with forensic analysis of the mail, inclusive of finger-printing. Stating that the company handled between 150,000 - 180,000 pieces of mail on a daily basis, Ali said, “We have dedicated resource, trained employees involved in the sorting and transporting of mail, and subsequently, the delivery of mail.”