The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) will be conducting an Advanced Multi-Disciplinary Trafficking in Persons Investigation, Prosecution and Adjudication Training in Antigua and Barbuda from Monday, September 14, to Friday, September 18, 2026.
The five-day training will be held at the Customs and Excise Department and is designed to strengthen the country’s capacity to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate complex trafficking in persons cases through a coordinated criminal justice approach.
The workshop will be delivered by CARICOM IMPACS and regional subject matter experts, bringing together investigators, prosecutors, magistrates, and judges to enhance collaboration and strengthen the investigation-to-conviction process in trafficking in persons cases in Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean region.
Human trafficking is a serious crime that exploits individuals through forced labour, sexual exploitation, and other forms of coercion. Effective training is essential to ensuring that law enforcement and criminal justice professionals are equipped to identify victims, gather evidence, investigate trafficking networks, and pursue successful prosecutions.
A multi-disciplinary approach is particularly important because trafficking cases often require close cooperation among police, immigration officials, prosecutors, forensic specialists, and the judiciary. Strengthening these partnerships can improve information sharing, support victim-centered investigations, and help ensure that cases are effectively prepared and adjudicated.
The training will therefore contribute to Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its national response to human trafficking, enhance accountability, and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
Representatives from the following agencies will be participating in the workshop: Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda High Court of Justice, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Customs and Excise Department, Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP), Antigua and Barbuda Immigration Department, Antigua and Barbuda Forensic Services
The workshop was arranged through the cooperation of the Trafficking in Persons Prevention Unit.
The training follows a recommendation made in the United States Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report and reflects the importance of continued investment in the country’s capacity to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute offenders.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to strengthening inter-agency cooperation and advancing measures to combat human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: CARICOM IMPACS to conduct Advanced Human Trafficking Training in Antigua and Barbuda.