Cuban Pair Charged in Alleged Sex Trafficking Operation Linked to Georgetown Nightclub

Two Cuban nationals have been remanded to prison after appearing before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where they denied allegations tied to what authorities suspect is a wider human trafficking network operating out of Prashad Nagar.
Raudel Ramirez Valverde, also known as “Pitulin,” a 32-year-old Cuban national, faces two indictable charges under the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 2023. Prosecutors allege that between March 1 and April 19, 2026, he recruited a Cuban woman under false pretenses, promising legitimate employment before subjecting her to commercial sexual exploitation.
He is further accused of confiscating the woman’s passport between April 11 and 12 while purporting to act as an employment agent—an act prosecutors say was central to maintaining control over the victim.
According to court disclosures, the victim was lured to Guyana with the promise of work as a store clerk. Instead, upon arrival, her passport was allegedly seized and withheld unless she repaid US$5,400. She was also reportedly forced to pay US$300 monthly rent—approximately GY$60,000—for accommodation at Valverde’s Prashad Nagar residence.
The prosecution contends that Valverde, along with his co-accused, Yenifer Maria Quevedo, coerced the woman into nightly sex work at the Magic City nightclub.
The situation reportedly escalated when the victim refused to continue. She was subsequently relocated to a property in Melanie, East Coast Demerara, where she allegedly encountered approximately 28 other Cuban nationals engaged in similar activities—raising serious concerns about the scale and organization of the operation.
Valverde, who required a translator during proceedings, told the court he resides at Amla Avenue with Quevedo, despite being legally married to a woman in Cuba. He claimed to be unemployed and denied the allegations.
In opposing bail, prosecutors underscored the gravity and prevalence of human trafficking, arguing that Valverde poses a significant flight risk and may interfere with the victim. They also highlighted his lack of verifiable local ties and unclear immigration status.
Magistrate McGusty agreed, citing insufficient assurances regarding his address, legal status, and the risk of witness tampering. Bail was denied, and he was remanded to prison.
Quevedo, a 22-year-old Cuban national, faces a separate charge of trafficking in persons. Prosecutors allege that she knowingly harboured and coerced the victim for the purpose of sexual exploitation, while benefiting financially.
Although she claimed to have relatives in Guyana, the court found her ties to the jurisdiction inadequate. Bail was similarly refused.
Both defendants are scheduled to return to court on May 28.
The case has intensified scrutiny on the presence of foreign-linked trafficking networks in Guyana, particularly those exploiting vulnerable migrants under the guise of legitimate employment. The reported discovery of dozens of foreign nationals in similar conditions points to a potentially coordinated operation that may extend beyond a single residence or nightclub.