Two Convicted of Human Trafficking in Curaçao, Sentenced to Prison

 

WILLEMSTAD – The Court in Willemstad has sentenced Maribel M. (47) to 42 months and Luis L. (58) to 30 months in prison for human trafficking. The pair lured five Colombian women to Curaçao under false promises and forced them into prostitution.

The judges ruled that the defendants violated fundamental human rights, including human dignity and personal freedom.

The victims, who arrived on the island with no money and little knowledge of Curaçao, believed they were pursuing better opportunities. Instead, they were placed in poor living conditions and forced to work at the Maribel Bar on Rooseveltweg. There, they were exploited as so-called “trago girls,” required to entice clients to buy drinks and perform sexual services.

Recruited via social media

The women had been recruited through social media, where they were asked to send bikini photos and sign contracts detailing work hours and obligations. Each traveled with a fabricated debt of $2,000 (approximately 3,600 guilders), which they were pressured to repay quickly.

Upon arrival, they were instructed to deceive immigration authorities. They were housed in unsanitary conditions, sharing rooms and covering their own food and living expenses. Violating the rules meant fines of 75 to 150 guilders, and relatives in Colombia were threatened to maintain control.

Exploitation by a fellow migrant

The court viewed Maribel’s actions as particularly serious, noting that she herself had once migrated to Curaçao in search of a better life but chose to exploit other women in the same vulnerable situation. She enforced the rules and supervised the victims, while Luis maintained contact with women in Colombia and arranged their travel to the island.

The court concluded that both defendants operated within a system designed for financial gain at the expense of the victims.

In addition to their prison sentences, the defendants were ordered to pay each of the five women 20,000 guilders in compensation. 




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