Authorities have detected a sexual exploitation network that apparently works on the Colombian side, but has managed to penetrate Venezuelan territory, specifically the state of Táchira, where the victims who are subjected to this type of exploitation are recruited.
Jonathan Maldonado | The nation
The rescue of the Tachirense teenager, who has been missing since February 1, once again set off the alarms of the Venezuelan authorities, since everything indicates that it is a case of human trafficking.
The minor was sighted on the Simón Bolívar international bridge, somewhat disoriented and lost, by officials of the National Guard (GN), attached to Border Detachment 212. She was alone that Monday, February 6. It was approximately 5:00 pm Her relatives were about to complete six days without knowing her whereabouts.
The investigations and investigations of the officials indicate that the young woman had been captured by a network of sexual exploitation that tried to subject her to that environment. The minor, as it could be known, burst into tears once she was approached by the GN uniforms. She was confused and several miles from her home.
A letter
In the complaint that the mother of the minor filed with the Scientific, Criminal and Forensic Investigation Corps (Cicpc), she highlights that, upon arriving at her house, she observed that her daughter was not there and had left her a letter stating that she was leaving for problems of a personal nature.
Although the case has been very hermetic, the reporting team of The nation He had access to that statement from the parent. Since her complaint and until February 6, the day she was found, despair reigned in her family nucleus, since it was not known which course she had taken.
When GN officials entered the adolescent’s data into the Siipol system, they were able to verify that she was the minor who was reported missing on the indicated date (February 1). They immediately proceeded to contact the competent authorities and the adolescent’s relatives.
*Read also: 26 Venezuelans were rescued in two operations against human trafficking networks
The sexual exploitation network apparently works on the Colombian side, but it has managed to penetrate Venezuelan territory, where it also operates and is attracting victims who would be subjecting it to this type of exploitation.
Another point that allowed them to identify the minor with the disappearance case was the photograph that the relatives spread on various social networks. In that image, the face of the minor was appreciated and there were her contact numbers for any information that was known about her whereabouts.
Apparently, the minor was able to escape in time from the people who wanted to involve her with the prostitution network. She headed towards the formal pass, where she received the help and protection of National Guard officers.
similar case
In August 2022, another case of human trafficking revealed how fragile the border area is and the danger faced by many young women and minors, who are transferred to certain places, under deceit, to later be subjected to exploitation networks.
On that occasion, the opportune call from the father of one of the two victims (a young woman of 18 and another of 16) made the security agencies act in time and prevent the young women from being taken out of the country via trail.
The call, from the Portuguesa state, was addressed to the San Antonio del Táchira Fire Department. The fire officials on duty, after learning about the case, went to the Cicpc and detailed the complaint they had received.
*Read also: The drama of the Venezuelan victims of trafficking mafias in Peru
The case was neutralized in a hotel in the Bolívar municipality, specifically located in the Lagunitas neighborhood. Two men and a woman were arrested at that time for being considered directly responsible for the case of human trafficking.
Human trafficking constitutes one of the most serious violations of human rights, since it violates the dignity and freedom of a person and directly affects their physical and mental integrity.
These cases expose the silent tentacles that run along the border between Táchira and Norte de Santander with the sole purpose of capturing future victims. The case of the rescued teenager is still under investigation.
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