Foreign nationals charged for running Child Prostitution ring in Tobago

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Foreign Nationals were charged for running a major Human Trafficking/ Child Prostitution Ring in Tobago-3. As per reports, the foreigners included one Colombian male and two females from the Dominican Republic who were were charged with the offence under the Children’s Act.

A Scarborough Magistrate denied their bail application when they appeared in court last week.

The accused are identified as Deivy Oscoro Silva, age 20, Digna Yulay Los Santos, 33 years and Alexandra Chalas Pozo, 22, from Riseland Trace Bethel Tobago.

It is to be noted that Santos and Pozo have also been charged with transporting a person for the purpose of Prostitution, while Pozo inculpated additionally of forcing a child to become a Prostitute.

The Trinidad and Tobago police services stated that the trio is currently remanded into custody and is expected to reappear in court on December 22, 2023.

Additional Details of Case

On November 27, officials of the Counter-Trafficking Unit received information about an illegal child prostitution ring where many minors were being held against their will.

As soon as they got the information, officers conducted a surveillance, followed by an immediate police operation. All three suspects were apprehended by a team of officials from the Counter Trafficking Unit and the Special Investigation Task.

The police managed to successfully rescue three Latin American minor females, and multiple items of evidential value were found and seized.

Moreover, the operation was led by Senior Supt Christopher Paponette of the Special Investigations Unit in collaboration with the Director of the Counter-Trafficking Unit. Legal advice regarding the matter was given by TTPS Legal Officer, Cpl Zaheer Ali.

Sgt Walters of the Counter-Trafficking Unit and Cpl Antoine of the Special Investigations Task Force supervised the mission along with the representatives of the Children’s Authority and the Victims and Witness Support Unit.

As soon as, this news gained the limelight in social media, many people lauded the commendable work of police officers.

Such stances on crime put the security and safeguard of the nation at risk, and the legal system of the nation should enforce some laws that could be proven to be deterrents for anybody who has any plans to engage in such crimes.