Dismantling of a migrant smuggling network to the USA and the EU
The Colombian public prosecutor’s office announced this Friday, May 12, 2023 that a dragnet had made it possible to arrest nine people suspected of belonging to a migrant smuggling network. This network provided false papers to candidates for exile in the United States or Europe.
More than one million Colombians emigrated in 2022.
Getty Images via AFP
Nine people suspected of belonging to a migrant smuggling network, which provided false papers to candidates for exile in the United States or Europe, have been arrested in Colombia, the prosecution announced on Friday.
The suspects, including a former Colombian border police official, charged between $4,000 and $5,000 for each foreigner, including Dominicans, to be sent to the country of their choice, according to the statement from the prosecution.
The dragnet, carried out in collaboration with the United States Embassy in Colombia, took place on Monday in the cities of Bogota, Medellin (northwest), Cali (southwest), Pasto (southwest) . According to the prosecution, the network had been operating since 2018 and, for example, was manufacturing fake work permits from a fake American shipowner.
One million Colombians emigrated in 2022
In Colombia, migrant smuggling is punishable by up to 12 years in prison. In addition to this charge, the suspects risk being prosecuted for conspiracy to commit an offense and corruption.
More than one million Colombians emigrated in 2022, out of a total population of around 50 million, according to a report by the Center for Studies and Resources for Conflict Analysis (Cerac).
AFP
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2023-05-13 02:19:10
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