Authorities in Santiago have dismantled a notorious human trafficking cell operated by the Tren de Aragua gang close to Chile's presidential palace.
Breitbart reported that the operation led to the arrest of four individuals and the rescue of twelve women and one child from forced prostitution.
On Tuesday, the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI), led by the Bitrap Human Trafficking Brigade, conducted the raid.
This event marked a significant blow against the operations of the Venezuelan-based gang within the nation's capital.
Those arrested, all Venezuelan nationals, were integral to the gang's activities, coordinating the trafficking and exploitation of the victims. They are slated to be formally charged later this week.
The victims, forced into prostitution, were liberated during the operation. Among them was a young child, presumed to be the son of one of the trafficked women, highlighting the devastating human impact of this illicit enterprise.
The gang operated a mere three blocks from La Moneda, Chile's presidential palace. This proximity underscores the audacity and danger posed by the Tren de Aragua, which even maintained a so-called "torture center" nearby.
Victims were subjected to horrific conditions, forced to pay the gang large sums of money weekly, under the threat of violence and coercion.
An ongoing investigation into the gang was prompted by the discovery of a burned and bullet-riddled body in October last year, belonging to a young Venezuelan man linked to the gang.
The deceased had reportedly broken the gang's strict rules by engaging romantically with one of the trafficked women, which led to his execution.
"The 20-year-old man was killed over his non-compliance with regulations related to the sexual exploitation of the gang’s victims," said Sergio Soto, an official from the Organized Crime and Homicide Team of the Chilean Prosecutor’s Office.
He further detailed the brutal manner of the young man's death, indicating the gang's ruthless methods of maintaining control over its operations and members.
This is not the first encounter law enforcement has had with the Tren de Aragua. Previously, another cell of the gang had infiltrated Chilean national police ranks, controlling a large number of victims around Santiago's Plaza de Armas.
The April raid dismantled this cell and rescued numerous victims, shedding light on the extensive and deeply entrenched nature of the gang's activities in Chile.
As the investigation continues, further arrests are anticipated, with ongoing efforts by the PDI and ECOH to dismantle the broader network of this transnational criminal organization.
The recent operation has sparked significant community concern and debates about security and policing near key government facilities.
With ongoing legal proceedings and the potential for more discoveries, there is a strong call for enhanced measures and international cooperation to combat human trafficking effectively.
The situation also highlights the critical need for support and rehabilitation services for those rescued from such trafficking rings, underlining the human rights challenges facing Chile today.
