Related videos:
A Cuban woman managed to escape from the individuals who were keeping her in sexual exploitation in Suriname and reported her situation to the authorities, a step that allowed for the dismantling of part of a network under investigation for human trafficking.
The Surinamese police reported on Monday that the victim's complaint, filed last week with the Department of Human Trafficking (TIP), led to the arrest of two suspects: a Cuban citizen and a Surinamese. Both were detained and placed in custody following consultations with the Prosecutor’s Office, according to the media Jamaica Observer.
According to preliminary investigations, the woman was taken to Suriname under false pretenses and, once in the country, was forced to engage in prostitution in nightclubs and in a brothel located in the interior of Suriname.
The authorities indicated that the victim had also suffered restrictions on their freedom of movement and constant intimidation.
"The victim was reportedly threatened systematically, while others appropriated the profits from their work," the police stated in a communiqué, while confirming that investigations are ongoing to determine if there are more individuals involved in the network.
The case once again highlights an issue that Surinamese authorities have publicly acknowledged in recent years: the vulnerability of Cuban migrants targeted by deceptive job offers or promises of easier emigration opportunities.
In March of this year, Suriname's Minister of Justice and Police, Harish Monorath, warned about a recurring pattern of human trafficking affecting Cuban citizens. As he explained at the time, many of the victims are contacted in Cuba and brought to the South American country with debts ranging from 4,500 to 5,000 dollars.
Once in Suriname, they end up relying on people who offer them accommodation or initial assistance, but who later subject them to debt bondage schemes.
"The victims have to pay 50 dollars a day. In Suriname, that is unaffordable, which is why they remain caught in a cycle of debt and dependency," said the minister.
Authorities have also detected similar situations in Guyana, another destination used by Cuban migrants in their transit through South America. At the end of May, two Cuban citizens were charged in Georgetown with alleged offenses related to human trafficking, including recruitment for exploitation, document retention, and housing of victims, according to information from News Room.
Identified as Raudel Ramírez Valverde and Yenifer María Quevedo Millán, both appeared before Judge Faith McGusty, were granted bail, and were required to check in every Friday at the Human Trafficking Unit. The case was postponed to June 19, 2026.
The background in the region is extensive. In October 2023, the Surinam police rescued 11 Cuban women and two Venezuelan women who were victims of sexual exploitation during an operation that resulted in the arrest of five suspects, three of whom are Cuban nationals.
Suriname and Guyana have become strategic points within the migratory routes used by thousands of Cubans attempting to reach other countries on the continent. This situation has been exploited by recruitment networks that take advantage of the desperation and vulnerability of those seeking opportunities outside the island.
The Surinamese police reiterated their call to report any signs of exploitation or human trafficking and reminded that these types of crimes often remain hidden for long periods due to the fear and dependency faced by many victims.
Filed under: