The National Migration Service of Panama detained a 41-year-old Cuban citizen at Terminal 2 of the Tocumen International Airport after being identified as the bearer of an outstanding arrest warrant for alleged conspiracy related to sexual trafficking, human trafficking, and associated crimes.
The detainee had arrived in Panama on a flight from Suriname and was headed for Mexico as his final destination, suggesting that he was attempting to pass through the country undetected.
On April 22, following routine immigration checks, authorities confirmed the existence of the international arrest warrant and activated the corresponding security protocols.
The press release from the National Migration Service states that the Cuban "has an active arrest warrant issued in the state of Texas, United States, for the alleged commission of crimes of conspiracy involving sex trafficking, human trafficking, and related offenses."
The Panamanian authorities did not publicly disclose the identity of the arrested individual.
The citizen was detained for the competent authorities to comply with the international judicial order, which opens the possibility of an extradition process to the United States.
The Surinam-Panama-Mexico route used by the detainee aligns with irregular migratory paths employed by Cuban citizens to reach Mexico and eventually the United States, circumventing direct controls.
The case falls within a documented pattern of Cubans involved in sexual exploitation networks with ties in Texas.
In July 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice condemned three Cubans for operating a network in Houston that recruited women from Cuba, illegally brought them into the country, and forced them to work in entertainment clubs under threats and violence.
Rasiel Gutiérrez Moreno was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $451,298 in restitution to the victims; Hendry Jiménez Milanés received a sentence of 120 months and $359,108 in restitution; and Rafael Mendoza Moreno Labrada was given 34 months in prison.
The Tocumen International Airport is the main air hub in Panama and a key transit point on routes between South America, the Caribbean, and North America, where the National Migration Service has successfully identified multiple international fugitives in transit.
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