Title: Young Woman Rescued from Human Trafficking Ring in Puebla‘s Historic Center
In a significant operation, Puebla’s Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE) rescued a 19-year-old woman from a human trafficking ring operating in a bar located in the city’s historic center. The young woman had been forced into prostitution against her will.
The victim began working at the "Barra Beer" in September 2024. Initially, her family didn’t suspect any irregularities, but on December 10, they lost contact with her. Her brother went to the bar to look for her but was prevented from speaking to her by the establishment’s staff. During a brief conversation, the young woman revealed visible injuries and described her situation.
Her mother promptly filed a missing person report with the FGE, which launched an investigation. The FGE maintained constant surveillance on the bar and other potential locations where the victim might be found.
On January 3, following an order from a judge, an operation was carried out at the bar located on 5 Poniente and 7 Sur. As the Guardia Nacional cordoned off the area, FGE agents conducted the rescue operation.
The operation resulted in the rescue of the young woman and the arrest of Ángel ‘N’, the suspected bar owner. He is accused of holding the woman captive and forcing her into prostitution. According to the FGE, the victim is receiving psychological attention and emotional support as part of the Protocol for the Attention of Victims of Human Trafficking.
Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, or harboring of persons through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of servitude. It disproportionately affects women, children, and marginalized communities. Collaboration between criminal networks and local authorities often hinders efforts to combat human trafficking, which operates both locally and internationally.
