U.S.-Backed Training Targets Human Traffickers and Criminal Networks in Guyana

According to Kaieteur News, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is intensifying its efforts against transnational organized crime and human trafficking by implementing specialized training designed to bolster investigations, improve the identification of victims, and enhance cooperation among law enforcement bodies.

This initiative began on Tuesday with the opening of a two-day workshop held at the GPF Training Centre in Camp Street, Georgetown, as stated by the police in a press release. The training is being executed in partnership with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), Dorcas Mending Hearts Ministry, and the United States Embassy.

Senior Superintendent of Police and Head of the Strategic Planning and Implementation Unit, Dr. Nicola Kendall, emphasized that the success of anti-human trafficking efforts is significantly tied to how officers respond when they encounter individuals who might be victims of exploitation. Kendall noted that the training intends to equip officers with the necessary skills to recognize warning signs, conduct sensitive interviews, make proper referrals, and contribute to effective investigations. She also cautioned that factors such as fear, trauma, threats to family members, and distrust of authorities can prevent victims from cooperating with investigators, advising that hesitation or difficulty recounting events should prompt careful, sensitive engagement rather than immediate negative judgment.

Dr. Kendall further distinguished between human trafficking and migrant smuggling, clarifying that trafficking involves exploitation and can occur within national borders, whereas migrant smuggling pertains to facilitating illegal entry across international lines for financial or material gain. She stressed the necessity of professional integrity, accurate record-keeping, lawful evidence preservation, and effective collaboration between investigators and prosecutors, urging participants to translate the acquired knowledge into practical improvements within their respective stations and divisions.

Jermaine Grant, the Guyana Project Director for PADF, pointed out the significant expansion of the partnership between PADF and the GPF since 2020. He explained that the B-PRO project, which has been active in Guyana since 2023, focuses on modernizing law enforcement capabilities across the Caribbean through institutional strengthening, professional development, and improving standard operating procedures. Grant mentioned that PADF has assisted in developing and updating standard operating procedures for the GPF’s Office of Professional Responsibility, as well as providing specialized training for Criminal Investigation Department personnel in areas such as forensic photography, bloodstain pattern analysis, and shooting incident analysis.

Grant stated that the most recent workshop was designed to address the escalating threat posed by transnational organized crime, with a specific focus on trafficking in persons. The involvement of officers from Regions One, Four, Seven, and Eight is intended to extend specialized investigative capacities into remote communities and border regions. He also referenced Guyana’s Tier 1 status in the United States Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, noting that while the country has maintained this ranking for ten consecutive years, ongoing efforts are required to tackle trafficking-related issues.

Trevona Weekes, representing Dorcas Mending Hearts Ministry, characterized human trafficking as one of the most severe human rights violations and crimes facing society. She asserted that trafficking constitutes an assault on personal freedom, fundamental rights, and human dignity, and it manifests in various forms including forced labor, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced begging, and the exploitation of children in illicit activities. Weekes warned that traffickers frequently target vulnerable populations using deceptive promises of better economic opportunities, education, or employment, including through online recruitment platforms. She highlighted the importance of law enforcement officers understanding the legislative framework, specifically Guyana’s Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, No. 7 of 2023, to effectively identify victims and investigate offenses. Dorcas Mending Hearts Ministry has developed a Manual on Trafficking in Persons in Guyana to serve as a practical training resource for law enforcement personnel, intended to strengthen victim identification, investigations, referrals, and the prosecution of offenders.

Kevin Ogley, the United States Embassy INL Director for Guyana and Suriname, issued a warning that transnational criminal organizations have become sophisticated enterprises possessing extensive financial resources, intelligence, and weaponry, thereby presenting serious threats to regional security. Ogley cautioned that criminal networks are increasingly interconnected, noting that the same organizations involved in narcotics trafficking are also involved in firearms smuggling, gold laundering, and exploiting vulnerable men, women, and children. He argued that human trafficking must be viewed within the broader context of organized criminal activity, suggesting that identifying and protecting victims could aid in disrupting the financial operations of these criminal networks.

Ogley pointed out the difficulties faced by officers operating near Guyana’s borders with Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname, as well as those serving mining communities, riverine areas, coastal locations, remote airstrips, and interior communities. He observed that criminal networks often link interior areas to coastal centers and international destinations, making coordinated law enforcement responses essential. He stressed that the response must also be connected, stating, “That’s why this room matters.” Ogley reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to enhancing security cooperation with Guyana, referencing the March 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on Security Cooperation, which includes commitments to improved information sharing, synthetic drug detection, and the investigation and prosecution of transnational organized crime. The U.S. Embassy’s INL section is collaborating with various Guyanese security and law enforcement institutions, such as the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, and Guyana Defence Force, alongside regional security partners.

Ogley identified three key priorities for the workshop: identifying and protecting trafficking victims, tracing financial transactions linked to criminal organizations, and strengthening cooperation across national and regional borders. He stressed that criminals coordinate, and therefore, law enforcement must coordinate even faster. Furthermore, he warned that criminal organizations often attempt to undermine law enforcement through corruption, asserting that the professionalism and integrity of officers constitute Guyana’s strongest defense. The workshop is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, November 4th, with officers receiving further specialized instruction focused on improving investigative effectiveness, victim protection, and coordinated responses to organized criminal activity.