The Homeland Security Ministry says the Counter Trafficking Unit has dismantled a major human trafficking ring in Tunapuna.

It says Operation G-Ride was executed this morning after six months of intensive intelligence gathering and surveillance.

CTU officers, supported by the Immigration Division and the TTPS, conducted a coordinated raid at a residence on St. Vincent Street.

There, authorities found 17 persons: 12 adult females between the ages of 18 and 26, two adult males aged 21 and 28, one minor female aged 16, and two babies under the age of three.

All were Venezuelan nationals, except for one of the babies, who is a Trinidadian national.

The Ministry says rapid human trafficking screening was conducted on-site, resulting in the identification of three of the adult females as Victims of Trafficking (VoT).

They are now under the care of the CTU’s Protection Team.

One Venezuelan national was also arrested at the scene.

The suspect’s baby (a Trinidadian national) and the 16-year-old potential VoT were both transferred to the care of the Children’s Authority.

The others were handed over to the Immigration Division for further processing.

Officers also recovered one illegal firearm and seized TT$150,000 in cash suspected to be linked to illicit trafficking proceeds.