3 weeks ago
4
Police believe they have dismantled a human trafficking ring operating under the guise of the “Triple R Spa,” as the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) executed a multi-agency operation today.
Police say simultaneous raids were conducted at two spa locations in Marabella and Cunupia, resulting in multiple arrests and the rescue of several victims, including a minor.
The operation, codenamed “Operation Triple Knock,” was launched following a referral from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Trinidad.
Police say a 20-year-old female Venezuelan national, who had arrived in Trinidad in January 2025, bravely came forward after escaping her traffickers.
She reported being lured to the country with a false promise of employment at a beauty salon, only to be subjected to ongoing sexual exploitation and forced to consume cocaine.
The victim was given a fictitious monetary debt to keep her enslaved at both spa locations.
A statement by the National Security Ministry said that the CTU immediately provided the victim with psychosocial support and protective interventions, which led to a detailed investigation and today’s successful enforcement action.
At the Cunupia branch of the spa, located on Sunrise Crescent, officers rescued seven adult Latin American females between the ages of 19 and 25.
A female Venezuelan national and a male Trinidadian suspect were arrested at the scene.
Simultaneously, at the Pearl Avenue, Marabella location, six adult females ranging from ages 18 to 35 were rescued, along with a 13-year-old girl who has been identified as a potential victim of trafficking. A male Trinidadian suspect was also arrested at that location.
Items of significant evidential value were seized from both sites and are currently being processed as part of the ongoing investigation.
“This high-impact operation was made possible through the coordinated efforts of several national security agencies, including the National Security Special Operations Group (NSSOG), the Special Naval Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the National Special Operations Unit (NSOU), the Financial Investigations Branch (FIB) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), and the Immigration Division,” the statement said.
English (US) ·