Another sexual trafficking ring busted

A DAWN raid in Panama has broken up another human trafficking rink   and freed  a group of victims of  sexual exploitation as part of a stepped up campaign against the human trade..

The operation began early  Friday July 29  at PH Sofia and The Splendor tower on Calle 78 and the Splendor tower, in the  Carrasquilla, district of San Francisco.

Three people were arrested,  two Colombians and a Venezuelan and  seven victims two Venezuelan, two Colombian, two Panamanians and a Nicaraguan were rescued, reports the Public Ministry.

Organized crime prosecutor Esperanza Montenegro said the operation was positive, since it was possible to dismantle a network that captured young  people to exploit them sexually and get profit from it. She said the investigation would continue and appealed to the population to be sensitized to the issue of trafficking, as it is a disease that severely affects society.

Panama Authorities  have dismantled several trafficking networks in recent months. On July 20 a ring  operating in an apartment tower with 52 victims  in El Cangrejo, was dismantled. A similar action was held in Costa del Este in June.

Penalties under the Criminal Code of for the crimes of trafficking for sexual exploitation call for jail terms  of 20 -30 years.