A thirty year old man is to appear in court today on 21 charges, including human trafficking, child prostitution and assault. Anthony Smith was arrested yesterday. He is said to be the mastermind behind a human trafficking and prostitution ring which extends to parts of the Caribbean, including Jamaica and Barbados.

Mr. Smith was charged by the Counter Trafficking Unit’s Inspector Leon Haynes, following investigations that began on September 23rd, last year. The investigation started after police officers raided a house located at Cane Farm Road, Arouca where three women from Venezuela and Guyana were found. Mr. Smith was then released on allegations of human trafficking

Yesterday a release from the police service said Mr. Smith is facing one charge of recruiting a child for the purpose of trafficking contrary to section 18 of the Trafficking in Persons Act, 17 charges of Sexually Penetrating a child contrary to Section 18 of the Children’s Act, 5 charges of Child Prostitution contrary to Section 14 of the Children’s Act; and three charges of Assault under Section 30 of the Offences Against the Persons Act. The charges were laid by WPC Dane-Marie Marshall.

Reports are saying Mr. Smith was operating an intricate network, described as an e-brothel, where men and women could get any kind of sexual experience with a selected partner. He is said to have connections in Guyana, Venezuela, Jamaica and Barbados.

(newscentre5)