The city of Cajamarca has been shocked by the testimony of María, a 22-year-old woman who has reported having been a victim of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Her story began in April 2019, when her family began searching for a missing 16-year-old girl, unaware that María had fallen into the hands of a criminal network that recruited her through the internet and deceitfully transported her to Lima.
Upon arriving in the capital, María found herself in a situation of exploitation, being forced into prostitution. Her captor, José Luis Huacanjulca Baltazar, 39, posed as her partner and manipulated her vulnerabilities.
During their time together, Maria had two children. He used tactics to gain her trust, recording images and videos that he used to offer his “services” on digital platforms.
José Luis operated in strategic locations in Lima, such as the Higuereta oval and La Bolichera in Surco, where he offered María to clients in exchange for sums of between 500 and 600 soles. However, María decided to fight for her freedom, which led to a police operation.
On September 18, after intelligence work, the police rescued Maria from a lodging in Comas. With evidence in hand, they arrested Jose Luis, who surrendered without resistance.
Today, Maria continues to share her story and has reported that her captor obtained around 70,000 soles through illicit activities. Despite the deep scars of abuse, her focus is on the well-being of her children while Jose Luis faces the consequences of his actions.
