The Home Affairs Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against human trafficking, joining regional and international partners in observing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons under the 2025 theme, “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End Exploitation.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry highlighted that human trafficking remains a serious and multifaceted crime that is often deeply connected to organised criminal networks. These operations are frequently intertwined with other illicit activities such as drug and arms trafficking, money laundering, and the smuggling of migrants – creating vast and entrenched regional and international networks.
However, the Ministry cautioned that the threat of trafficking also comes from within victims’ immediate environments, including from trusted individuals such as family members and close acquaintances. This dual nature of the crime complicates detection and underscores the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response.
“Traffickers use coercion, deception, fraud, bribery, and blackmail to entrap their victims in dangerous and exploitative situations,” the statement noted. “This strips them of their dignity and freedom, and is unacceptable.”
As part of Guyana’s response, the Home Affairs Ministry, in partnership with the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, the Guyana Police Force, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and other members of the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, pledged to continue using a victim-centred approach – prioritising victims’ rights, dignity, and recovery.
Significant strides have been made through legislative reform and operational improvements. The Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, originally enacted in 2005, was amended in 2023 to impose stricter penalties and introduce new offences, including the trafficking of children for narcotics production and illegal adoption. The updated legislation also places increased focus on victim protection and introduces enhanced provisions for restitution.
Additionally, the Taskforce has finalised a new National Action Plan for 2026-2030, which will guide Guyana’s prevention, prosecution, protection, and partnership efforts in addressing trafficking in persons.
In 2025 alone, over 5000 students from 30 schools in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) benefited from awareness and sensitisation sessions. Capacity-building initiatives also reached 260 law enforcement, immigration, community policing, and prosecutorial personnel. Fifteen dedicated TIP focal points were also deployed across six regions, receiving specialised training to strengthen regional responsiveness to trafficking cases.
Between January and June 2025, the Guyana Police Force’s TIP Unit conducted eight anti-trafficking operations. Ninety-four alleged victims were screened and interviewed, with four suspects identified and one person convicted in March. A foreign national was also charged with trafficking and the unlawful withholding of identification documents.
To further bolster victim support services, the Ministry recently completed construction of a transitional centre for suspected victims of trafficking and other vulnerable individuals. The $56 million facility is designed to reinforce the victim-centred approach in ongoing investigations and recovery processes.
The Ministry urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected trafficking cases via its 24-hour hotlines: 227-4083 or 623-5030 for English speakers, and 624-0079 for Spanish speakers.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, with its partners on the Ministerial Taskforce, will continue to invest in building capacity and implementing robust strategies to combat this crime, bring perpetrators to justice, and support survivors as they reclaim their lives,” the statement said.
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