Trinidad and Tobago declared a state of emergency on Monday as the government prepared for reprisal shootings following an assassination attempt on a gang leader, officials said.

The Caribbean twin-island state off the coast of Venezuela will use the emergency to take action against gangs, the authorities said.

Although there will be no curfew, the declaration will be accompanied by increased police and military operations.

Defense forces will become de facto police officers and both will be allowed to carry out searches without a warrant, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Stuart Young told a news conference.

Bail is suspended and people suspected of a crime can be held without charge for 48 hours. With court approval, the deadline could be extended another seven days, Young said.

According to Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, gunmen on Saturday shot at a known gang leader as he left the police station and killed a member of his crew.

The report did not name the gang leader.

On Sunday evening, five men were shot in what was believed to be retaliation, according to Newsday.

“I have no doubt that we are dealing with an epidemic,” National Security Secretary Fitzgerald Hinds told reporters at a news conference.

Trinidad and Tobago has seen a record number of murders this year.

The island republic has recorded an unprecedented 623 homicides so far this year, 263 of which were attributed to gang activity, according to Hinds.