Antigua and Barbuda has never secured a conviction for human trafficking since passing its landmark anti-trafficking law in 2010, a gap that international observers say has created a culture of impunity.
The finding comes from the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, which again placed the country on Tier 2 — recognizing government efforts but highlighting systemic failures. The report said that although authorities investigated 13 suspects in nine trafficking cases last year, no prosecutions were initiated and no convictions were recorded.
Under the law, penalties range from 20 years’ imprisonment for adult trafficking to 25 years for crimes against children, but observers said weak investigative capacity and corruption in the legal system have kept traffickers from facing consequences.
The report noted that court backlogs, limited financial and human resources, and the small size of the Eastern Caribbean state make it difficult to protect victim-witnesses. Without adequate safeguards, many victims are reluctant to testify, further weakening cases.
While the government provided training on victim identification, legal frameworks, and the difference between trafficking and migrant smuggling, observers said evidence collection and case management remain weak. The report added that no government employees were investigated or prosecuted for complicity in trafficking crimes.
Antigua and Barbuda’s continued Tier 2 ranking signals that while prevention efforts — including public awareness campaigns and a new National Action Plan — have moved forward, the absence of prosecutions underscores a widening gap between policy and practice.
