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alexk
Guest
Senior Supt of the Southern Division Zamsheed Mohammed has given the assurance an investigation will be launched into the allegations of a Latino prostitution ring in South Trinidad that is being facilitated by Immigration officers and a private school.
It is alleged that Spanish-speaking women from several countries, including Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Peru, Brazil and Columbia are being brought into the country with student visas they purchase from immigration officers for as much as US$1,500.
The immigration officials also allegedly facilitate the extension of their stay here via various other means.
The women then allegedly prostitute themselves to wealthy businessmen, who visit the school and pay up to US$30,000 a month up for their jaunts with the women.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Mohammed said he “will look into it.” Asked if his officers will approach the investigation seriously to crack down on illegal immigrants, Mohammed replied: “Yes.”
A police officer yesterday told the T&T Guardian officers believe the “operations” go a little deeper, but admitted because it is such a “well-linked” and “well-organised” business it may be difficult for investigating officers.
“Honestly, people who are involved in this level of illegal operation in T&T have the people in all the right positions to help them cover up and get away, with the relevant needed documents being handed over to them,” the officer said.
“But if there is really a will to break this ring, a way will be made for all the police officers, Coast Guard officers and Immigration officers, who stick to their oath to duty, to come together as one, as a law enforcement team, to combat this and arrest all responsible.”
The initial request for a police probe came from the wives of businessmen who are complaining the Latino sex workers are stealing their husbands away from them.
Efforts to reach the Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon and the Chief Immigration Officer Charmaine Ghandi-Andrews were unsuccessful yesterday, as all messages and calls to their cellphones were either unanswered or went straight.