Accused human trafficker out on bail

Hyacinth Ford-Dryden, the alleged mastermind behind a major human-trafficking ring, has been granted $1 million bail.

Ford-Dryden has been ordered to surrender her travel documents and report to the Linstead police every day.

A stop order was also placed on her.

Ford-Dryden is accused of leading a human-trafficking ring in which 15 children went missing.

It is believed that the children were smuggled into the United States.

The court was told yesterday that US visas were issued to eight of the children.

The court was further told that three children have returned to Jamaica while the other five are believed to be in the US.

Ford-Dryden is to return to court on March 2.

Visa interview

Allegations are that on December 8 last year, the accused went to the Consular Section of the US Embassy in St Andrew for a non-immigrant visa interview for a 16-year-old minor.

During the interview, she allegedly produced an adoption certificate.

Information was subsequently received confirming that the document was fraudulent and that the accused had previously taken 16 other minors to the embassy under the same circumstances.

The matter was reported to the police.

Detectives from the Flying Squad later arrested the accused.

Ford-Dryden was then charged with forgery, possession of forged documents and uttering forged documents.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com