Guatemalan Police Officers Arrested for Migrant Trafficking from Uzbekistan
Guatemala Cracks Down on Human Trafficking Network, Arrests 25 Individuals, Including Police Officers
Guatemalan authorities have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against human trafficking by arresting 25 individuals, the majority of whom are active police officers. The arrests were part of an operation targeting a criminal organization known as “Los Rs,” which has been implicated in running a human trafficking network along a route commonly used by migrants heading to the United States.
Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez made the announcement on Tuesday, revealing that among those detained were two retired police officers and 11 civilians. The charges against the individuals include money laundering, as it was discovered that the organization had been amassing millions of quetzals, Guatemala’s national currency, through their illicit activities.
The investigation into the network was initiated after two individuals were caught illegally transporting 10 migrants from Uzbekistan through Guatemala. This discovery led to the dismantling of the entire operation, with the authorities seizing four vehicles, a firearm, and an undisclosed amount of cash during the operation.
Jimenez emphasized that the human trafficking ring had been leveraging corrupt police agents to ensure the safe passage of the migrants they were trafficking through the country. The investigation received support from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, with the Embassy confirming that the network had exploited close to 10,000 migrants.
Efforts to combat human trafficking in the region have been intensified in recent months, with Panama initiating U.S.-funded deportation flights for migrants and Guatemala and U.S. authorities dismantling another human smuggling network linked to the tragic deaths of 53 migrants in a Texas truck in 2022. The arrests in Guatemala mark a significant step forward in the battle against human trafficking, sending a strong message that such criminal activities will not be tolerated.
