3 months ago
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A magistrate has ordered the forfeiture of more than $36,000 TT and several foreign currencies to the State, following a money laundering and child trafficking probe that began with a raid at a 2019 “Secret Sunday” party in Port of Spain.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service said the court found the funds were connected to Wei Hui Zhu, who was charged in December 2019 with trafficking a child.
A joint investigation led by the Counter-Trafficking Unit, Child Protection Unit and Financial Investigations Branch (FIB) linked the money to unlawful activity. The FIB said Zhu’s cash—seized during a search at a West Moorings home—was derived from criminal conduct.
The order was made by Acting Chief Magistrate Christine Charles on July 29, under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The total amounts forfeited were:
- TT $36,719
- US $8,063
- GY $60,060
- RMB ¥1,965
- EC $965
- €345
- HK $180
The case began when officers rescued a Spanish-speaking minor during the 2019 party. Days later, they found 33 foreign women at a Cunupia bar, and arrested its manager, Andrew George.
Zhu was charged after investigators linked him to the trafficking ring and cash recovered at the West Moorings property. PC Pierre led the financial probe under FIB head Avinash Singh.
The TTPS said the outcome was a major step in dismantling white-collar criminal networks.
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