By Prior Beharry
A 44-year-old Port-of-Spain man has been charged for human trafficking.
He was arrested at the Piarco International Airport while trying to leave the country.
Samuel Weekes, of Duke Street, Port-of-Spain, has been slapped with three charges after he was arrested following the rescuing of 27 Latin American women last year.
A release of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service on Thursday stated that based on an ongoing human trafficking investigation after the women were recused on December 31, 2021, statements and enquiries were made.
The investigation was led by ACP Deosaran of the Central Intelligence Bureau and included Immigration officers and members of the Special Investigations Unit.
The release stated that Weekes was held at Piarco International Airport as he was attempting to board a Copa Airlines flight to Panama. He was destined to Colombia, it stated.
After consultation with Director of Public Prosecution Roger Gaspard, SC, Constable Richards proffered the following charges:
- Trafficking in Persons, contrary to Sec 16 of the Trafficking in Persons Act Chapter 12:10;
- Rape, contrary to Sec 4 (1) (a) of the Sexual Offences Act Chapter 11:28 3); and
- Being a Gang Leader, contrary to Sec 5 (1) (a) of the Anti- Gang Act 4 of 2021.
Weekes appeared before the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody until Monday.
The investigation was spearheaded by ACP Cooper and coordinated by Supt Veronique and ASP Haynes of the Multi-Agency Task Force, in collaboration with the Director of Counter-Trafficking, Alana Wheeler and Legal Officer, Zaheer Ali. Acting Cpl Antoine of the Special Investigation Task Force supervised the investigation.
