By AZP Staff
CUNUPIA – POLICE have detained 20 non-nationals during a raid at a business in Cunupia. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said this raid was part of its anti-human trafficking stance.
Among those detained were 12 Venezuelan women while three Jamaican and five Nepalese men were arrested along with the owner of the business.
In a statement today, the TTPS stated: “Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith has commenced as promised, to take action against human trafficking and the exploitation of women and minors paying particular attention to night clubs, bars and brothels where these women are being used.
“However, the Commissioner says there are few police officers who continue to compromise these operations because they have a vested interest in this trade.
“There are officers who have a stake in the illegal activities of these clubs and tip-off operators of these establishments before an exercise, so that when they raid nothing is found.
“Therefore, to curb this, in the same way he has used the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) to have covert sting operations to rescue kidnap victims and make huge drug busts and weapon seizures, the Commissioner of Police is now also using SORT to lead raids on these night clubs, bars, and brothels, and success is being ignited by using SORT instead of using officers stationed in the Divisions where these clubs are located.”
Griffith said he is aware that there are certain elements who are averse to operations, activities, and successes of SORT; because ‘big business’ is being affected, persons will use all angles in attempts to discredit and bring this team down.
