Nine Cuban women are among the 16 alleged victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation rescued from a bar the previous week during a police operation in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Officials from the State Attorney General's Office, with the support of the Navy Secretariat, intervened in a location in the municipality of Benito Juárez, where they found nine women of Cuban nationality, two Mexicans, two Venezuelans, two Colombians, and one Jamaican, all of whom are adults, "alleged victims of acts that may constitute the crime of human trafficking in its modality of third-party prostitution", stated the FGE in a statement on its website.
Authorities specified that the women "provided sexual services" for which they charged a fee of 5,000 pesos, of which they handed over 3,000 to the bar manager.
The women also drank with the customers, who were charged 500 pesos for each drink consumed by the woman, of which 250 went to the manager. Additionally, they offered private dances for a fee of 250 pesos for three minutes. The buckets of beer cost 600 pesos, the report added.
Following the registration of the establishment, agents from the Criminal Investigation Police, assigned to the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for the Fight Against Crimes of Trafficking and Exploitation of Girls, Boys, and Adolescents, transported the alleged rescued victims to the FGE.
Additionally, they placed "security seals" on the bar located on Bonampak Avenue, at the height of Supermanzana 6 in the municipality of Benito Juárez.
Last year, a feminist organization that assists migrant women in Mexico warned about the increase in cases of trafficking of Cuban, Colombian, and Venezuelan women, nationalities that top the list of female trafficking in that country.
In an interview with the Spanish agency EFE, members of the group Caminantas warned that many women arrive in Mexico with the promise of a job or after establishing a romantic relationship online with Mexican men, who have financially supported them or their families for months or even years. However, once in the country, everything changes, and they end up becoming victims of trafficking and are subjected to various forms of violence.
According to data from the National Public Security System (SNSP) cited by EFE, of the 227 foreign women murdered in Mexico from 2015 to 2023, 32 were Colombian and 29 were Venezuelan. The report did not disclose the number of Cuban women murdered during that period.
In recent years, coinciding with the unstoppable exodus of migrants from Cuba to various countries, reports of Cuban women who are victims of sexual exploitation in the United States, Spain, Uruguay, Suriname, Panama, and Guyana, among other nations, have also increased.
Additionally, arrests have been made of Cuban citizens accused of exploiting women.
At the end of March, Cristóbal Fernández Viamonte, a dual citizen of Cuba and Mexico, was extradited to Mexico from Colombia after being identified as the leader of a transnational human trafficking network for sexual exploitation.
Frequently asked questions about human trafficking and the rescue of Cuban women in Mexico
How many Cuban women were rescued in the police operation in Quintana Roo?
In the police operation conducted in Quintana Roo, nine Cuban women were rescued as presumed victims of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. This rescue was part of a total of 16 women of various nationalities freed from the same establishment.
What was the situation of the women rescued from the bar in Quintana Roo?
The women rescued provided sexual services for which they were paid, but a large portion of the money was handed over to the bar manager. Additionally, they engaged in activities such as drinking with customers and performing private dances, generating income for the establishment.
What actions did the Mexican authorities take after the rescue of the women?
The Mexican authorities transferred the rescued women to the State Attorney General's Office for their protection and care. Additionally, they placed seals of confiscation on the bar where they were found, as a preventive measure to halt the continuation of these illegal activities.
What does this case reveal about human trafficking in Mexico?
This case highlights that Mexico is a critical hub for human trafficking, particularly concerning women from vulnerable nationalities such as Cubans, Colombians, and Venezuelans. The promise of employment or romantic relationships, which later turn into exploitation, are common tactics used by trafficking networks.
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