Officials: 20 girls rescued during Juárez human trafficking sweep

By Marisela Ortega and Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 07/25/2011 11:12:37 AM MDT

Chihuahua state officials are investigating allegations of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in Juárez after a weekend sweep targeting Downtown businesses netted the detention of 1,030 men and women.

The federal Public Safety Ministry announced that the July 22-23 operation is part of Mexico's National Amber Alert Program, modeled after the U.S. program, in an effort to find young women who are reported missing.

"As a result of these actions, 20 female minors were rescued," officials said in a news release. "In addition, officers detained 500 men and 530 women on suspicion of possible links to human trafficking and sexual exploitation."

One of the teenage girls found during the sweep was reported missing since May. Another underage girl was found in the Hotel Refugio at Nicolas Bravo and Mina, where a woman was found dead on July 15, officials said.
During the operation, the officers blocked off a section of the downtown that included several streets: Carranza, La Paz, Miguel Aleman, Globo, Grijalva, Francisco Mina, Noche Triste and Rafael Velarde.

A total of 24 bars, three hotels and two guest homes were checked.

Police said several women identified themselves as prostitutes.

Marisela Ortega may be reached at mortega@elpasotimes.com; 542-6077; Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140;

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_18544746