Former Police Officer Sentenced for Human Trafficking of Colombian Women

A former police officer from Trinidad and Tobago has received a prison sentence of 16 years, 5 months, and 15 days for trafficking three Colombian women over a decade ago. Valentine Eastman, who was part of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service during the offenses, was convicted on January 31, 2025, following a thorough investigation by the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) that began in 2013. In his remarks during the sentencing on July 28, Justice George Busby highlighted the premeditated nature of Eastman’s actions, which included deception, intimidation, and significant psychological harm inflicted on the victims. He emphasized that the crime was financially motivated and represented a serious abuse of power and trust. Between March 3 and 25, 2013, Eastman lured the women under false pretenses, promising them employment in Trinidad and Tobago. He facilitated their smuggling from Venezuela and subsequently trafficked them across various bars in South and Central Trinidad for sexual exploitation, also forcing them to work under harsh conditions at his residence. The case, initially filed in the San Fernando First Magistrates’ Court, was prosecuted by then State Counsel Sarah De Silva, leading to Eastman’s trial in the High Court starting in November 2024, with prosecutors Ambay Ramkellawan and Kyrn Lewis at the helm. The CTU played a crucial role in securing the return of two victims to testify, supported by the International Organization for Migration and the Colombian and Chilean embassies. Their testimonies, along with evidence from 14 other witnesses, were instrumental in securing the conviction. The CTU hailed the outcome as a significant affirmation of justice, reiterating that no one, including law enforcement officers, is above the law.