Police Uncover Major Human Trafficking / Child Prostitution Ring in Tobago- 3 Foreign Nationals Charged

Scarborough, Tobago – December 11th, 2023 – In a significant development, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has announced the dismantling of a major human trafficking and child prostitution ring in Tobago. Following an intelligence-led operation, three foreign nationals were apprehended and subsequently denied bail when they appeared before a Scarborough Magistrate on December 4th, 2023.

DEIVY OSCORO SILVA (20, Colombian male), DIGNA YULAY LOS SANTOS (33, Dominican Republic female), and ALEXANDRA CHALAS POZO (22, Dominican Republic female), all residing at Riseland Trace, Bethel, Tobago, were jointly charged with Trafficking in Children. The charges were laid by WPC Rodriguez of the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) following advice on December 4th, 2023, and the trio appeared before Magistrate Christine Charles in the Scarborough Magistrates Court.

Additionally, LOS SANTOS and POZO face charges of Transporting a Person for the Purpose of Prostitution, with POZO receiving an extra charge of Inciting a Child to become a Prostitute under the Children’s Act. All three accused were remanded into custody, with a return court date set for December 22nd, 2023.

The breakthrough came on Monday, November 27th, 2023, when officers of the Counter Trafficking Unit received information regarding an alleged child prostitution ring where several minors were being held against their will. Officers immediately transitioned to Tobago, conducting intense surveillance followed by an immediate police operation. The arrests were made by a team from the CTU and the Special Investigation Task Force during this intelligence-led action.

The operation successfully rescued three Latin American female minors, and several items of evidential value were discovered and seized. The comprehensive operation was spearheaded by Senior Superintendent Christopher Paponette of the Special Investigations Unit in collaboration with the Director of the Counter Trafficking Unit. Legal advice was provided by TTPS Legal Officer Cpl Zaheer Ali, with supervision by Sgt Walters (CTU) and Cpl Antoine (Special Investigations Task Force), alongside representatives from the Children’s Authority and the Victims and Witness Support Unit.

This successful intervention underscores the TTPS’s commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable children in Tobago and across the nation.