2 arrested for child trafficking as 15-year old Venezuelan teen rescued

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2 arrested for child trafficking as 15-year old Venezuelan teen rescued

Two men were granted bail when they appeared in court on Thursday charged with supporting a gang contrary to the Anti-Gang Act 2018.

Andrew George and Matthew Ross appeared before Senior Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan at the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court in a virtual hearing.

George was charged with the following:

1. Receiving a Financial benefit from a child contrary to Section 26 of the Trafficking in Persons Act 12:10

2. Trafficking in Children contrary to Section 18 (1) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Act 12:10

3. Supporting a Gang contrary to Section 9 (d) of the Anti-Gang Act 1 of 2018

4. Sexual Penetration of a child contrary to Section 18 of the Trafficking in persons Act 12:10

5. Trafficking in Children contrary to Section 18 (1) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Act 12:10

6. Supporting a Gang contrary to Section 9 (d) of the Anti-Gang Act 1 of 2018

George was placed on $1 million bail with a surety, or cash alternative of $100,000.

He is to report on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to the San Fernando Police Station before midnight. He was also ordered to surrender his passport.

Ross was charged with the following:

1. Supporting a Gang contrary to Section 9 (d) of the Anti-Gang Act 1 of 2018

2. Trafficking in Children contrary to Section 18 (1) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Act 12:10

Ross was placed on $500,000 bail with a surety, or cash alternative of $50,000.

He is to report on Mondays and Thursdays to the Freeport Police Station between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

The cases were adjourned to November 5th 2020.

According to a police report, an exercise was conducted by the members of the Special Investigations Task Force on Monday which resulted in the arrest of George and Ross.

During the exercise, officers went to an apartment on Jamadar Street, San Fernando, in an attempt to arrest Damian Scoon and was engaged in an exchange of gunfire.

As a result, Scoon was shot and later succumbed to his injuries at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Scoon was wanted on charges of being a gang leader, trafficking in children, and sexual penetration of a child.

The Special Investigations Task Force started an investigation in October 2019 after a 15-year-old Venezuelan girl was rescued by the police.

This led to a series of arrests of persons, including police officers, and the seizure of firearms, drugs and cash.

Raids were subsequently carried out which led to the rescue of a number of Latin American juveniles.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations and Intelligence) McDonald Jacob, said the laying of the charges followed extensive and meticulous investigations conducted by various units of the TTPS.

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