A taxi operator was charged after he allegedly trafficked a 16-year-old girl whom he met while on duty. The teen was reportedly misled into prostitution late last year after she ran away from home and encountered Andre Catnott, who was at the time employed as a ride-share driver.
Catnott, a resident of Longwall, Stony Hill, was transporting the teen in November 2024. Reports say that during their interaction, he learnt she had run away from home. According to investigators, he offered her an opportunity to work as a model for his massage company, convincing her with the promise of employment.
The teenager allegedly accepted the offer, but instead of legitimate work, she was presented to many clients in the corporate area and coerced into performing sexual acts with them. Meanwhile, Catnott was allegedly collecting the proceeds.
The matter was eventually brought to the attention of the police in February 2025 when the teen’s relative found her. The report sparked a months-long investigation that led to Catnott’s arrest on September 17, 2025. Reports say that he was detained following an operation by the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) at his residence.
C-TOC’s Acting Senior Superintendent of Police Victor Barrett emphasised that the case reflects the JCF’s broader commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable groups. According to Barrett, the arrest of Catnott is part of a sustained push to identify, track, and dismantle networks that profit from exploitation. They noted that the fight against human trafficking relies heavily on public involvement, stressing that reports from community members often play a critical role in bringing offenders to justice.
Investigators say their work is far from over as they pursue leads to determine the identity of others involved in Catnott’s alleged operations. Catnott was officially charged with trafficking on Monday and is set to appear in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Friday.
The police are urging anyone with knowledge of human trafficking or similar crimes to come forward. Information can be shared confidentially with C-TOC at 876-967-1389, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, Crime Stop at 311, or any nearby police station.