In an inter-institutional work, troops of Colombian National Army, with the support of the Technical Investigation Corps, Migracion Colombia, together with the Embassy of the United States, arrested 11 people in several cities of the country, who allegedly were part of a criminal structure specialized in the smuggling of migrants and the falsification of public and private documents.
Through a military intelligence and counterintelligence work, the judicial orders were made effective through simultaneous searches in Barranquilla, Soledad and Malambo, Atlántico, as well as in Valledupar, Cesar, and Medellín, Antioquia.
Among those arrested are three people who, using their position in public institutions, allegedly facilitated the issuance of false documents to allow the irregular transit of migrants through Colombian territory.
During the raids, three victims of migrant smuggling were identified and brought to safety, two of Ecuadorian nationality and one Dominican, who were taken for assistance and corresponding legal processes.
A revolver-type firearm, six 38 mm caliber cartridges and a laptop computer were in the same way seized. In addition, those arrested were put into custody of the authorities. Investigations are continuous to determine the scope of this transnational network that hit the national security and human rights of migrants.
Source: Press – National Army
