Linden hotelier arrested after cops rescue suspected human trafficking victims

The proprietor of a Linden hotel and bar was arrested on Thursday night after police swooped down on the business and rescued two women, who are suspected to be victims of human trafficking.

In a brief statement yesterday, police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan confirmed that the owner of the Riverview Hotel and Bar, which is located at Wismar, Linden, was arrested around 9.30 pm on Thursday.

The police, acting on information received, went to the business, where a search was conducted and two women, who are both foreign nationals, were rescued from a room.

Ramlakhan said the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection was informed and the women, who alleged that they were being held against their will, were removed from the premises.

Investigations are ongoing.