Guyana authorities have launched a human trafficking investigation after three underage girls were intercepted at the Kurupukari checkpoint in the Upper Demerara-Berbice region late Sunday night.
In a brief statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that police detained four men—two drivers and two porters—after the girls were discovered traveling in two trucks that were subsequently seized at the checkpoint, located near the indigenous settlement of Kurupukari along the Essequibo River.
“Police officers at the Kurupukari checkpoint have just intercepted three underage girls in what is suspected to be a case of human trafficking,” the ministry said. “Two trucks were detained, and four individuals…have been taken into custody as investigations continue.”
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities or nationalities of the girls or the men in custody. The Home Affairs Ministry noted that the matter is being treated with urgency and seriousness, given the potential nature of the crime.
Kurupukari serves as a key crossing point on the Linden–Lethem trail and has long been monitored by law enforcement due to its proximity to interior regions often linked to cross-border and interregional trafficking activity.
The investigation is ongoing.
