70 survivors identified and 7 suspects arrested in collaborative operation
The Peruvian town of Llacuabamba, nestled in the rugged Andean mountains, is far from any typical tourist route. Located a grueling 15-hour drive from the coastal city of Trujillo, it is separated by miles of barren terrain and challenging mountain passes, with no other towns in sight. Llacuabamba’s isolation and remote location, and lack of an adequate physical law enforcement presence, allowed criminal organizations to thrive here for years, from illegal mining operations to the dark world of sex trafficking.
After a police officer observed an underaged girl traveling alone on a bus to Llacuabamba, he learned that a man had paid for bus ticket so that she could work as a waitress at a bar. The police officer, suspecting trafficking may be at play, alerted the intelligence division who initiated an investigation. With Our Rescue’s support of this critical operation, the information was corroborated, and the case began.
After authorities verified claims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation activities in Llacuabamba, a field operation was initiated. A team of 50 —including prosecutors, police personnel, Our Rescue field operators and survivor care specialists—traveled in two large buses and a specialized SUV (all funded by Our Rescue) to this remote location. This diverse group also included members from the Peruvian Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Human Trafficking and the Peruvian National Police’s Specialized Group Against Organized Crime.
The collaborative field operation was a stunning success. Over two days, Peruvian authorities arrested seven suspects and seized several cell phones, uncovering valuable data about the organization’s criminal activities to aid in the prosecution.
The Power of One
Though almost 70 women were identified as having been trafficked, only one agreed to cooperate with authorities. This ratio isn’t unusual: cooperation with authorities in Peru is often equated with grave physical harm to survivors or their loved ones. Unfortunately, the threat of violence is very real, with criminal organizations regularly distributing graphic videos on social media of women to ensure their full compliance.
In the case of this operation, a single brave survivor’s testimony, and the assistance of Our Rescue, was enough to dismantle this criminal network and disrupt their illicit activities.
The Power of Many
This story shows the power of a single investigative lead. Host nation law enforcement, in collaboration with Our Rescue, pursued the case, building it into a large-scale operation. This operation helped survivors break free from a cycle of violence and launched them into a new future.
Our Rescue continues to work with Peruvian law enforcement to identify criminal networks, as well as identify survivors and offer survivor care services to all who wish to begin their journey toward healing and reintegration.
This mission starts and ends with you, and all of us, working together. Please join us. Your support sustains our fight against sex traffickers and helps empower survivors on their healing journey.