Police have launched a probe into a possible case of Trafficking In Persons (TIP) which has been reportedly committed on a 17-year-old unemployed Venezuelan, who was residing at Kumaka Water Front, Mabaruma, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini)
The young lady, who hails from Tucipita, Venezuela, legally arrived in Guyana in November 2020 and was staying at a wharf at the Kumaka Water Front, Police said on Tuesday. However, she had subsequently sent for her 15-year-old brother, who is also a Venezuelan of Tucipita, Venezuela.
Neil London
According to Police, the brother legally arrived in Guyana on January 26 and he too was staying at the wharf and the young lad began to work as a labourer in the area.
Police said that the young lady was befriended by a 40-year-old man identified as Neil London, a construction worker of Kumaka Water Front, North West District, and Lot 252 Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The 40-year-old man and the teenager began to live together for about seven days until they both disappeared. Police said at about 08:30h on Tuesday, the construction worker brought the young girl to Georgetown, leaving her brother behind. They both remain missing.
The matter was since reported by the teen’s brother to the Mabaruma Police Station at around 14:30h. The young man is now in the care of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Police have since launched an investigation into the matter and are seeking London as they continue their probe.
Back in November 2020, it was reported that 24 foreign females were detained by Police during a raid at a popular nightspot, Baroombar International.
Eight Dominicans, one Cuban and 15 Venezuelans were detained by Police.
The Public Security Ministry had disclosed that “an investigation was launched into the alleged Trafficking in Persons ring. As a result, investigations proved that the females from the Dominican Republic and Cuba all overstayed their time in Guyana”.
According to the Ministry, the females were interviewed and later released on bail, and were required to return to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Three suspects in the alleged TIP ring were detained by the Police for questioning. Those include a bartender, security guard and a dispatcher. They were also interviewed and released on bail. (G15)
