22 Women Freed in Cancun Trafficking Sting

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MX — Quintana Roo Attorney General Raciel López Salazar announced that during the execution of a search warrant, coordinated with the Benito Juárez Secretariat of Citizen Security and Transit, authorities located and secured 22 women—16 Mexican and six foreign nationals—who are alleged victims of human trafficking for the purpose of prostitution. The operation took place at a bar located in Supermanzana 230.

López Salazar provided this information during a press conference held by the Security Cabinet. Also in attendance were Cristina Torres Gómez, Secretary of Government; Rear Admiral Julio César Gómez Torres, Secretary of Citizen Security; Colonel of Infantry, General Staff Diploma, Guillermo Robles Tozcano, Commander of the 64th Infantry Battalion; and Rear Admiral José Alberto Rodríguez Cuevas, Commander of the Cozumel Naval Sector.

According to initial investigations, the modus operandi for recruiting the women was to lure them through acquaintances and social media. Knowing their vulnerable situations, these contacts recommended they apply for jobs as "ficheras" and waitresses at the bar. However, to sell more "fichas" (tokens), the women were required to allow themselves to be touched and have more intimate contact with clients.

The cost of a ficha was 200 pesos. A bucket of beers ranged from 200 to 380 pesos, depending on the brand. If a woman wanted to leave the bar with a client, she paid 1,500 pesos directly to the establishment's cash register, in addition to receiving between 1,500 and 3,000 pesos from the client for sexual services.

Of the foreign nationals secured by the Attorney General's Office, four are Cuban, one is Colombian, and one is Venezuelan. During the search, agents secured two payment terminals, condoms, consumption notes and fichas, as well as a computer.

The 22 women were transported to the State Attorney General's Office to give their official statements, which will be incorporated into the investigation file initiated for this case.

Broader Enforcement Statistics

In a separate report on broader law enforcement activities, Raciel López Salazar informed that during the period of October 13 to 19 of this year, the prosecution under his command obtained 77 bindovers for trial, while also executing 35 arrest warrants and 10 search warrants.

Regarding the bindovers obtained, he specified the following breakdown by crime: 21 for crimes against health in the modality of small-scale drug dealing; 11 for robbery; seven for aggravated homicide; seven for family violence; four for sexual abuse; four for rape; three for abuse of authority; three for homicide; three for deprivation of personal liberty; three for vehicle theft; two for extortion; two for attempted homicide; two for attempted robbery; one for negligent damages; one for femicide; one for aggravated homicide, attempted homicide and injuries; and one for intentional injuries.

With respect to the arrest warrants executed, five were for aggravated homicide, four for extortion, four for aggravated robbery, three for failure to comply with family support obligations, three for family violence, two for qualified robbery, and one each for the crimes of sexual abuse, qualified dispossession, attempted femicide, attempted homicide, homicide in a brawl, injuries, qualified injuries, kidnapping and qualified injuries, rape, rape and statutory rape, rape and deprivation of liberty, qualified robbery, generic fraud in collaboration with Mexico City, and family violence in collaboration with Guerrero.

During the same period, the State Attorney General's Office executed 10 search warrants: six for crimes against health, two for human trafficking, one for attempted aggravated homicide and qualified injuries, and one more for rape.

Furthermore, as a result of evidence provided by this autonomous agency, 13 people were sentenced: six for aggravated homicide, two for rape, two for robbery, one for qualified robbery, one for attempted homicide and qualified robbery, and one for sexual abuse.