Antigua and Barbuda: A Haven for Financial Crimes and Human Trafficking?
Overview
Nestled in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, Antigua and Barbuda is famous for its beautiful beaches, luxurious resorts, and a thriving offshore financial sector. However, this idyllic paradise harbors dark secrets. It has become a hotspot for financial crimes, including Ponzi schemes, and a hub for human trafficking.
Human Trafficking
People: Human trafficking in Antigua and Barbuda is a significant problem. Women and children, especially from neighboring countries like Saint Lucia, Jamaica, and Guyana, are lured with promises of legitimate jobs. Once on the islands, they are forced into:
- Sex work
- Domestic servitude
- Retail jobs
Corruption: Corruption runs deep in the human trafficking sector. Allegations of police officers being in league with traffickers are rampant. Some are suspected of hindering investigations or persuading victims not to speak out against their captors.
Caregivers and Local Parents: Tragically, caregivers and local parents also play a role in the sexual exploitation of children. Antigua and Barbuda is known as a child-sex-tourism destination, where both locals and tourists seek out victims.
Human Smuggling: Human smuggling is relatively insignificant but involves forgery of Antiguan and Barbudan passports for those seeking entry.
Trade
Arms Trafficking: The issue of arms trafficking in Antigua and Barbuda is a growing concern, despite a relatively low gun homicide rate. Security services and corrupt officials are rumored to be either arming these criminals themselves or turning a blind eye. With gang activity on the rise, it’s likely that arms could be trafficked in from nearby Jamaica.
Counterfeit Goods: The trade in counterfeit goods is common but not controlled by organized criminal actors. These items primarily come from international websites and, sometimes, Cuba. No significant evidence points to illicit trade in excise goods.
Environment
Environmental Crimes: The environmental criminal market is small but growing, mainly due to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and trafficking of conch. Smaller fauna-related crimes may surround exotic bird trading, but more data is needed to assess its impact. There’s no evidence to suggest non-renewable-resource crime activities.
Drugs
Drug Traffic: Antigua and Barbuda serves as a crucial transit hub in the Caribbean drug trade, thanks to its central location. It’s frequently used as a stop-off point for cocaine and cannabis shipments on their way from producing countries in South America to large consuming markets in the north. The lack of monitoring and policing along the country’s territorial waters makes it an attractive target for drug traffickers.
Domestic Drug Production: Small-scale cannabis cultivation occurs in the countryside, but it’s not enough to meet local demand. The country imports most of its cannabis via sea and air routes. Occasional seizures of synthetic drugs suggest their presence, but it’s unclear if they’re linked to organized crime.
Cyber Crimes
Cyber Crimes: No persistent threats of cyber-dependent crimes or substantial cybercrime networks have been identified in Antigua and Barbuda. However, government websites have been targeted by cyberattacks originating from Jamaica.
Financial Crimes
Financial Crimes: As a substantial offshore centre with a large financial sector, Antigua and Barbuda is vulnerable to financial crimes, including Ponzi schemes. However, no substantial evidence exists to indicate that these activities are tied to local or international organized crime.
Criminal Actors
Foreigners: Foreigners, particularly Guatemalans, Jamaicans, and Guyanese, are believed to play a major role in drugs and human trafficking.
Local Criminal Networks: Local criminal networks are predominantly concentrated in poor neighborhoods. Although they focus on theft, car break-ins, and home invasions, there is evidence of loose networks becoming increasingly involved in women trafficking.
The Fight Against Organized Crime
Despite a history of corruption extending back to the country’s independence, the current government has taken a strong stance against organized crime. However, low-level corruption continues to plague officials, and there’s limited resources to investigate and prosecute corruption cases. The legal framework is robust, but it has its weaknesses, and officials lack the resources to enforce it effectively. Antigua and Barbuda is party to all relevant international agreements dealing with organized crime and cooperates with international partners and neighboring countries in efforts to eradicate criminal markets.