Cops in human trafficking probe after 40 detained in ‘Back Road’ raids
Head of the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, addresses a JIS Think Tank. (Photo: JIS)
The police are now investigating a possible case of human trafficking following operations on Port Henderson Road, Portmore in St Catherine yesterday morning in which 40 people, including two teenage girls, were detained.
Head of corporate communications for the Jamaica Constabulary Force Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay told the Jamaica Observer that two operations were carried out approximately 5:00 am and 7:00 am on the strip popularly referred to as “Back Road”.
She said the aim of the operations was to apprehend individuals who were listed as persons of interest.
Lindsay, while confirming that two underaged girls were taken into custody, said the police are investigating a case of human trafficking.
Up to press time, Lindsay said the police were still processing the two teenagers and the others who they believe were transported to St Catherine.
The operations came on the heels of the launch of Trafficking in Persons Week.
On Monday, the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Justice held a press conference at the Ministry of Justice on Constant Spring Road in Kingston focussing on the issue of human trafficking.
The press conference signalled the start of a week of activities, being observed under the theme ‘Stop Human Trafficking: Everybody Business’ that will see the National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons taking the message to the residents of Rocky Point, Clarendon, and Spanish Town, St Catherine.
In 2016, an estimated 45.8 million people were victims of human trafficking globally.
According to the United States Department of State Diplomacy in Action website, Jamaica is a source and destination for adults and children subjected to s*x trafficking and forced labour.
Look deh.
This human trafficking crap is being used to curb people’s freedom of movement Kmt
Human traficking is serious, pity the average jamaican too ignorant and dont read to realise human trafficking is so huge and it affect so many innocent kids, teens and young adults. Smh, too many kids worlwide are victimised, i want them to crack down on it man, nuff strip club operators are to be prisioned too, poor girls taken to different countries against thier will. Some of our university girls are seeking jobs oversees and trafickers pose as legit business n kidnap dem and use them for sex n pimp dem out, i am glad they raid back road, they should do it more often, because they normally let them go anyways if they jamaicans n they overage. Jamaican people only thinking about party, uno need to go read n educate uno damm dunce self about things dat a go affect uno kids n uno young family members in the short n long run. Some a uno only pon social media a wasts time, uno go read n know wat is taking place so uno can be aware n uno can get pro active.