Sexual exploitation of minors  network dismantled

A network dedicated to the sexual exploitation of minors made up of about 11 people, including a corporal from the National Border Service (Senafront) and government officials, was dismantled on Monday, July 24, by the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) and the Public Ministry.

An official from the Social Security Fund and another from the Ministry of Education were arrested, confirmed prosecutor Giselle Acosta.

Operation “Trillizas” took place in the provinces of Chiriquí and Darién, in which three minors who were allegedly sexually exploited were located.

Prosecutor Acosta said the investigation began in December 2022, when the minors became pregnant and went to a health center where one of the victims reported that the baby’s father was a person who paid to have sexual relations with her. The information was forwarded to the Public Ministry.

In the investigation, it was determined that the mother and father of the three minors had participated in the criminal act by advertising on social networks for which they were placed under the orders of the Public Ministry to determine their connection to the crime.

In the operation, 14 raids were carried out in Puerto Armuelles and Río Sereno in the province of Chiriquí.

While the Senafront official was detained at the checkpoint located in Las Lajas, Yaviza in the province of Darién.

According to the investigations, the official participated actively in the sexual exploitation network.

According to the investigation, the network charged between $40, $50, and $100 for access with minors. Some of the minors were reported to have been abused for years.

The authorities specified that in addition to the three victims, three more minors were recovered, who will be placed under the orders of the Secretariat for Children and Adolescents for their protection.