How Venezuela Shipwrecks Revealed Sex Trafficking Ring

Discussion in 'Articles' started by News Readers, Jun 5, 2019.

  1. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    How Venezuela Shipwrecks Revealed Sex Trafficking Ring

    The sinking of two boats sailing from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago has unveiled a criminal ring implicating high-level law enforcement officials in the trafficking of migrants and children for sexual exploitation. The two boats had left Güiria, in Venezuela’s Sucre state, for Trinidad when they sank, leaving more than 50 people missing and 10 survivors, El Universal reported. The first boat wrecked on April 23 with 38 people on board. Nine people were later arrested on human trafficking charges after one survivor, along with family members of the victims, spoke to authorities. Many of the passengers were headed to ...


    The first boat’s captain and one survivor, identified as a teacher, are currently being held. The second boat’s captain, reportedly the only survivor, has a previous conviction for human trafficking. His whereabouts are currently unknown after he fled from a hospital in the Caribbean island of Grenada. Five hotel owners in Venezuela’s eastern coastal city of Güiria were arrested after the victims stayed in their properties before boarding the boats. They have since been released. Güiria residents have told the press that most passengers were charged between $250 and $500 to be taken to Trinidad and Tobago. Several teenagers, who ...


    Teachers from poor schools and even neighbors are encouraged by traffickers to recruit girls whose families are in dire economic straits, luring them with promises of money and gifts, InSight Crime learned. Authorities have arrested others suspected of human trafficking since the wrecks. Three suspects were arrested as they traveled to Güiria in the company of five young people, including three teenagers, without identity documents. Another two were arrested for crewing the boat that would have transported the victims to Trinidad and Tobago. It is estimated that each ship sending sex trafficking victims to Trinidad and Tobago can earn between ...


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    https://www.insightcrime.org/news/a...-shipwrecks-revealed-sexual-trafficking-ring/