Since the age of 23, Santokhi worked as a police inspector in Geyersvlijt and Wanica until he was appointed in 1989 as head of the national criminal investigation department.
Sedan 23 års ålder arbetade Santokhi som polisinspektör i Geyersvlijt och Wanica tills han utsågs 1989 som chef för Rikskriminalpolisen.