THE HAGUE – A couple previously convicted of human trafficking and exploiting Venezuelan women in Curaçao may be required to repay more than 667,000 guilders in illegally obtained profits, following a recommendation by an Advocate General to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands.
The case centers on the nightclub La Tasca operated by the couple, where Venezuelan women were brought to the island illegally and forced to work without contracts or permits. According to the findings of the court, the women were employed as so-called “trago girls,” tasked with encouraging customers to buy drinks and, in some cases, engaging in sexual activities with clients.
The women were also required to stay in a nearby hotel connected to the operation, where they lived under controlled conditions.
The Joint Court of Justice had earlier sentenced the couple to four years in prison for co-perpetrating human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and the illegal employment of foreign nationals. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a confiscation order of approximately 667,241 guilders, representing profits believed to have been generated through the illegal activities.
The defendants subsequently filed an appeal in cassation to the Supreme Court. In the Dutch legal system, cassation does not involve a retrial of the facts but instead examines whether the law was correctly applied and whether the judgment was sufficiently reasoned.
In this case, the Advocate General advised the Supreme Court to reject the appeal, concluding that the objections raised by the defense lack merit. The defense had argued that the financial calculation was based on a broader group of victims and a longer time period than what was explicitly established in the criminal conviction.
However, according to the legal opinion, the original ruling already referenced additional victims beyond those specifically identified, allowing the court to consider a wider group when estimating the unlawful gains. The Advocate General also found that the court sufficiently justified extending the calculation period, citing indications that the criminal activities continued beyond the timeframe initially proven.
The advisory further supports the court’s estimation of the number of women involved. Evidence presented in the case indicated that around 20 Venezuelan women were working at the nightclub on certain nights, while approximately 12 to 13 women were staying at the associated hotel. Based on this, the court concluded that at least 13 women were structurally generating income for the operation.
While the opinion of the Advocate General carries significant weight, it is not binding. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its final ruling on May 26, which will determine whether the confiscation order remains in place.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable migrants in the Caribbean, particularly involving women from Venezuela seeking economic opportunities abroad.