Colombian authorities have detained three women and are searching for another in connection with a sex trafficking ring which brought Colombian women to Trinidad and Tobago under false pretences and forced them into prostitution.
The office of the Attorney General in Colombia said in a statement issued October 3 , , that over Colombian girls, teenagers and women were lured from Colombia over to Trinidad and Tobago with promises of jobs, only to be sold into sex slavery. The reports came from women who said they had been detained for up to 10 years and upon their return to Colombia, made reports to the authorities.
The release said a crime ring in the neighbourhood of La Dorada, Caldas, made false job offers to over girls, teenagers and women, took them to Trinidad and Tobago and forced them to engage in sexual activities. The women were even offered documents and a portion of the money as a loan in order to start the alleged jobs. The Attorney General's office said upon arrival in Trinidad and Tobago, the women were taken to a 'commercial establishment' in Port of Spain which 'had the appearance of hotel' but was actually a brothel.
The release said the women were stripped of their documents and their movements were monitored. Their food was restricted as well as their use of public services. They were exploited commercially for sexual purposes until they repaid their debts spent on travel and maintenance, which was continually increased so that the women were never allowed to escape.
The information obtained showed that when women were close to repaying their debts or if they did not want to work or became ill, they were turned over to immigration authorities who arrested and imprisoned them. Get the latest local and international news straight to your mobile phone for free:. Breaking News. Church can't keep up with rising refugee numbers, Archbishop says. Road to be closed in Barrackpore for paving works.
