TWO Cuban nationals accused of trafficking a fellow Cuban woman for sexual exploitation were granted bail on Friday after previously being remanded to prison when the charges were first laid earlier this month.

Raudel Valverde and Yenifer María Quevedo Millán appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where their bail applications were granted.

Valverde faces charges of Unlawful Withholding of Documents and Recruiting by Force or Coercion for the Purpose of Exploitation, while Quevedo Millán is charged with Harbouring for the Purpose of Exploitation under the Trafficking in Persons Act.

The court granted Valverde bail in the sum of $150,000 on the document-related charge and $750,000 on the trafficking charge. Quevedo Millán was granted $750,000 bail on the harbouring charge.

Both were ordered to report every Friday to the Trafficking in Persons Unit at CID Headquarters. The matter was adjourned until June 19, 2026.

According to the prosecution’s case, the virtual complainant was allegedly recruited from Cuba after being offered what was described as legitimate employment as a store salesperson in Guyana.

However, prosecutors contend that after her arrival, Valverde allegedly confiscated her passport and refused to return it unless she repaid US$5,400. He is also accused of demanding US$300 monthly rent for accommodation at his Prashad Nagar residence.

The prosecution further alleged that Valverde and Quevedo Millán forced the woman into commercial sex work at the Magic City Nightclub, where she was required to work nightly.

When the woman reportedly refused to continue working, she was allegedly relocated to a property at Melanie, East Coast Demerara, where she observed about 28 other Cuban nationals allegedly engaged in similar activities.

The allegations remain before the court and the accused have not been convicted of the offences.