A number of recent prosecutions in the Cayman Islands suggest that human trafficking offences may also be taking place
The commissioner of police in the Cayman Islands, Derek Byrne, has asked members of the public to assist the Islands’ police and customs and border control agency to ensure that immigration to the Cayman Islands remains legitimate, and that people arriving to work do so freely and are not being exploited.
Commissioner Byrne has asked members of the public to be vigilant as there are signs that the immigration system is being misused, including a rise in the number of sham marriages, the fraudulent issue of work permits and situations where permits are issued to persons who might be easily exploited and trafficked for the sex trade.
During the course of one recent case involving the bribery of immigration officers, it transpired that one of the persons involved in the case was connected to the recruitment of women for bars and hairdressing salons, none of whom were fluent in English.
No one has been charged for the crime of human trafficking so far.
Commissioner Byrne is anxious to prevent these peripheral crimes from occurring and has noted that intelligence-led work is key in these situations.
