Fundaredes denounced that Venezuelan migrants are “easy prey” to human trafficking

The Venezuelan NGO Fundaredes denounced on Wednesday that migrants are “easy prey” to human trafficking on the border between the Caribbean country and Colombia, where, it assured, they become victims of violence in various forms.

“Recruitment, exploitation, human trafficking, modern slavery, prostitution and extortion are some of the situations of violence that Venezuelan migrants are subjected to on the Colombian-Venezuelan border (...) by human traffickers,” the NGO said in its latest report on migration.

The report, entitled “The figure of the 'coyote' reinvents itself on the Colombian-Venezuelan border to attract migrants,” concluded that young men and women, for the most part, are “co-opted to join the ranks of armed organizations such as the National Liberation Army (ELN), the FARC dissidents, the Bolivarian Front of Liberation and even the Aragua Train (Venezuelan criminal gang)”.

Fundaredes added that, in view of the increase in the number of women crossing the border with their children and families, a new irregular presence has emerged at the border crossings of the “coyotes” (human traffickers), which represents “great and serious risks” for migrants.

This figure of the 'coyote', he argued, “known on the border between Mexico and the United States, has its “version” on the borders of the Táchira and Apure states with Colombia, offering “its services to migrants to transfer them to their country of destination.”

The organization explained that the Apure-Arauca border corridor is one of the main migration routes, despite the fact that, between 2021 and so far this year, it has been the scene of clashes between various guerrilla groups and the Venezuelan Army.

“It is also one of the most dangerous, because armed conflicts are compounded by the fact that it is used by these organizations to attract people who end up in the hands of trafficking, exploitation and slavery networks,” he stressed.

The NGO argued that the “desperation” of families to “escape” the crisis has spurred the proliferation of “criminal organizations dedicated to human trafficking, child trafficking, sexual exploitation, modern slavery and labour exploitation.”

He called on the Venezuelan Attorney General's Office to investigate violations of the rights of citizens who migrate “forcibly”, as well as disappearances, extortion and trafficking in persons.

(With information from EFE)

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