HIDDEN VICTIMS

Children apprehended for gang-related activities are not typically screened for signs of human trafficking, raising concerns that youngsters exploited by criminal networks could be punished for crimes they were forced to commit, according to the United States Department of State.

The finding is among the key concerns outlined in the department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report on Jamaica, which warns that inadequate screening of vulnerable children could result in trafficking victims being inappropriately penalised for unlawful acts committed as a direct consequence of their exploitation.

The report, released last wweek, cited the issue among the justifications for Jamaica retaining a Tier 2 ranking on the Global Human Trafficking Index.