Guatemala arrests 25 police officers in human trafficking ring
Police among 25 detained in Guatemala human trafficking bust
Guatemalan security agents have arrested 25 individuals, chiefly active police officers, linked to a human trafficking network. This network operated along a route frequented by migrants heading to the United States, according to Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez on Tuesday. Guatemala has long served as a major transit point for migrants from Latin America and other regions journeying north to Mexico’s border with the United States.
Among those detained, two were retired police officers, and 11 civilians faced charges, including money laundering for a group known as “Los Rs.” Authorities revealed that this group had been active for several years, amassing millions of quetzals, the local currency. Jimenez stated in a video message that the organization exploited police officers, corrupting them to ensure the safe passage of trafficked individuals across the country.
The interior ministry highlighted that a prior arrest of two individuals, who were illegally transporting 10 migrants from Uzbekistan through Guatemala, led to the operation that dismantled the network. Four vehicles, a firearm, and cash were confiscated. The ministry did not specify the origins or destinations of the smuggled migrants.
Guatemala detiene a 25 policías vinculados a trata de migrantes https://t.co/WuKjVufjrq
— La voce d'italia (@voceditalia) October 2, 2024
Jimenez noted that the U.S. embassy in Guatemala and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security collaborated on the investigation. The U.S. embassy mentioned on X that the human-trafficking network had exploited nearly 10,000 migrants.
In August, Panama initiated U.S.-funded migrant deportation flights as part of Washington’s efforts to curb the flow of people traveling to its southern border, many of whom seek better economic conditions and security. That same month, Guatemalan and U.S. authorities announced the joint dismantling of another human-smuggling network. This network had connections to the 2022 tragedy where 53 migrants were found dead in a sweltering truck in Texas.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Reuters reports on Guatemala’s arrest of 25 police officers implicated in a human trafficking network, highlighting corruption and law enforcement complicity in migrant smuggling.(read more)
- RFI: Guatemalan authorities dismantled a migrant trafficking ring, arresting 36 individuals, including police officers, and seizing funds, devices, and firearms, highlighting efforts to combat human smuggling despite police corruption.(read more)
- France 24 reports Guatemalan authorities dismantled a migrant trafficking ring involving police, arresting 36, including 23 active and two retired officers, and seizing illicit funds and devices, part of a strategy to combat human trafficking.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who were arrested in Guatemala for human trafficking?
25 police officers and 11 civilians.
What was the human trafficking network in Guatemala known as?
Los Rs.
Which countries collaborated in the investigation?
The U.S. and Guatemala.
How many migrants did the network exploit?
Nearly 10,000 migrants.
What led to the operation against the human trafficking network?
The arrest of two people transporting 10 Uzbek migrants.
