2024-07-16 02:41:18
A dual national, Cuban-Mexican, was arrested for allegedly leading a transnational network of trafficking in women, that operated in Colombia and Mexico.
The above was confirmed on Friday, July 12 by Interpol, who added that the suspect was arrested along with his main ally.
“Both suspects were wanted in Mexico and were subject to Interpol red notices,” the organization said in a statement.
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According to the director of the Colombian police, General William Salamanca, the alleged leader of the criminal network is Cristóbal Fernández Viamonte.
The suspect was captured in Medellín, Colombia, where he lived “in a mansion in El Poblado,” the most luxurious neighborhood in the city, and “traveled in high-end armored vehicles” with a strong security system.
His partner was captured in Yucatan. In the operation, the authorities rescued eight victims.
They offered jobs upon arriving in Mexico
According to the operation carried out by this trafficking network, they took advantage of young women from impoverished environments in Cali, Medellín and Bogotá.
The victims were offered jobs in Mexico as waitresses and hostesses, but upon arriving in the country, their passports were confiscated and they were subjected to sexual exploitation.
“Investigations revealed that the victims received “official” invitation letters to facilitate their access to Mexico. Upon arrival, the women were met by members of the criminal group, who took them to safe houses and confiscated their passports.
“They were then forced to sign contracts that forced them to take on unsustainable debts, which would be paid off by performing sexual work in bars supposedly owned by the group’s leader,” Interpol said.
The destinations of these women were the tourist cities of Mérida, Yucatán, and Cancún, Quintana Roo, where drug and human trafficking has increased in recent years.
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The criminal group came to the attention of police in June 2022 when victims in Mexico managed to escape and report their ordeals to authorities.
The @FGRMexico carried out raids leading to the rescue of the victims and the arrest of a woman suspected of running operations. pic.twitter.com/3o4hcxYej7
— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ) July 12, 2024
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2024-07-16 02:41:18