BOGOTA.- In a joint operation between the authorities of Colombia y MexicoTwo leaders of an international network of women trafficking have been arrested, Interpol reported on Friday.
Christopher Fernandez Viamontea Cuban-Mexican citizen, and his main ally were arrested in an operation that included several countries.
Fernández Viamonte was arrested in Medellín, Colombia, where he was living in a luxurious mansion in the exclusive neighborhood of El Poblado. Colombian police chief General William Salamancaexplained that the detainee traveled in high-end armored vehicles and had a robust security system. “The capture of Fernández Viamonte is a significant blow against sex trafficking in the region,” said Salamanca.
At the same time, in Yucatán, Mexico, authorities arrested Fernández Viamonte’s partner. During this operation, eight women victims of the trafficking network were rescued, although Interpol has not provided additional information on their status.
The criminal network targeted young women from impoverished backgrounds in Colombia’s main cities: Cali, Medellín and Bogotá. The victims were lured with promises of employment in Mexico as waitresses and hostesses. Once in Mexico, their passports were confiscated and they were forced into sexual exploitation. Mérida and Cancún were the main destinations where these women were exploited, regions that have seen an increase in human trafficking and drug trafficking crimes in recent years.
This case has a disturbing precedent. In January, the Colombian government reported the disappearance of eight Colombian women in Mexico. Mexican authorities later managed to find them alive, although press reports suggest the women were being held against their will at a party with several men.
Colombia’s Ministry of the Interior reported 264 reports of human trafficking in 2023, a figure that underlines the persistence and seriousness of this crime in the country. The arrests of Fernández Viamonte and his partner represent progress in the fight against these criminal networks, but also reveal the need for constant international cooperation to effectively combat human trafficking.
Source: With information from AFP
