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Observers Cite Impunity as No Trafficker Convicted in 15 Years
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Antigua and Barbuda has never secured a conviction for human trafficking since passing its landmark anti-trafficking law in 2010, a gap that international observers say has created a culture of impunity.
The finding comes from the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, which again placed the country on Tier 2 — recognizing government efforts but highlighting systemic failures.
The report said that although authorities investigated 13 suspects in nine trafficking cases last year, no prosecutions were initiated and no convictions were recorded.
Under the law, penalties range from 20 years’ imprisonment for adult trafficking to 25 years for crimes against children, but observers said weak investigative capacity and corruption in the legal system have kept traffickers from facing consequences.
The report noted that court backlogs, limited financial and human resources, and the small size of the Eastern Caribbean state make it difficult to protect victim-witnesses.
Without adequate safeguards, many victims are reluctant to testify, further weakening cases.
While the government provided training on victim identification, legal frameworks, and the difference between trafficking and migrant smuggling, observers said evidence collection and case management remain weak.
The report added that no government employees were investigated or prosecuted for complicity in trafficking crimes.
Antigua and Barbuda’s continued Tier 2 ranking signals that while prevention efforts — including public awareness campaigns and a new National Action Plan — have moved forward, the absence of prosecutions underscores a widening gap between policy and practice.
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Do as I say not as I do. All legal systems are corrupt to some degree. The USA should be the last to condemn corruption in other nations legal system because look at what is happening with the republicans and trump as they dismantle the US legal system.
Money talks as the rich walks and the poor gets caged like animals in zoos like animals.
@ Bullshit talk……look at what is happening with the republicans and trump as they dismantle the US legal system……What in the world are u talking about???? Dismantling what???? NONESENSE!!!!!The US states legal system is in waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy better shape than Antigua….BEST BELIEVE THAT….
@Money talks an Bullshit Walks, long before Trump the US judicial system was compromised. Judges are appointed based on which party they support, Trump did not start this. Federal judges make decisions based on what their political party affiliation is, in such a system there can be no real justice. It was already a broken system.
@Money talks.
Come to America then and commit human trafficking or under age sex crimes and see how far the lost you in jail. Even prisoners in the penal system do not like pedo’s. So you are talking foolishness when it comes to the topic at hand “human trafficking”.
How many people you know in Antigua that rape and commit child sex acts, and are still getting high jobs and are allowed to be around kids and schools? Antigua doesn’t even have a sex crimes registry or victims advocate agencies, and here you are making dump remarks comparing the US justice system to that of Antigua.
I can look up any pedo that live in my area and protect even my damn dog from them here in the states, where is Antigua’s crime prevention policies on such crimes or any crimes for that matter,? none!
When you go to jail, gang members are identified and documented, which help police to better investigate or identify these gangs.
What is Antigua doing about its gangs?
And those are just two examples, so go sit in a corner if you don’t know what you’re saying.
I live in a county where if you sneeze too hard, we have a sheriff that’s on your arse like white on rice, where criminals are even afraid to drive through that county..so please keep quiet if you don’t know what you’re saying.
All cops are not perfect, but it’s hard to find a cop who will turn a blind eye to a traffic ticket, much less rape and trafficking young girls here in this country.
Even this..go fling a stone after a dog, like many do in the Caribbean, and see what they do to you here?
So stop talking shyt if you don’t know what to say .you are talking on pure emotions and not the facts.