According to a post on Instagram by Douglas Rico, director of Venezuela’s Corps of Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigations (CICPC), the 14 people were rescued before they could be transported to T&T. However, I would caution against interpreting these operations as evidence that human trafficking between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago is declining. “Human trafficking, human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and the illicit movement of firearms and ammunition are not crimes that simply disappear because authorities disrupt one or two networks,” he said. “Criminal networks are entrepreneurial. Guardian Media contacted Alexander by telephone and WhatsApp about the latest Venezuelan operation, but he did not respond up to press time.