By Natalia Rueda 
Medellín, Colombia – The capture of Cristobal Paulino Fernandez Viamonte, one of Mexico’s most wanted criminals for human trafficking, marks a significant milestone in the fight against transnational organized crime. Colombian authorities were able to arrest this individual in Medellin after a meticulous surveillance operation that lasted three months. Fernández Viamonte, who had established himself in Colombia more than four years ago under the façade of a successful businessman and had a net worth of more than 8 billion pesos thanks to his dirty work, was apprehended as he left the Milla de Oro shopping mall.
#10Jul
— ImpactoVenezuela (@ImpactoVE) July 10, 2024
🇨🇴 AUTORIDADES LO DETIENEN EN MEDELLÍN
Así fue la detención del cubano-mexicano, Cristóbal Fernández Viamonte, cabecilla de una organización criminal dedicada a captar mujeres con fines de explotación sexual
📌Vía: @1Yasminvelasco pic.twitter.com/ieE9vNNwEz
How does this human trafficking network operate?
The criminal network led by Fernández Viamonte operated with a particular modus operandi. It was dedicated to exploiting vulnerable women from various regions of Colombia, including Medellin, Bogota and Valle del Cauca. The organization lured its victims with deceptive offers of employment in Mexico’s tourism sector, specifically in popular destinations such as Cancun and Merida.
Once in Mexican territory, victims were robbed of their identity documents and forced to sign abusive contracts, plunging them into a vicious cycle of debt and forced sex work. Many of these women, desperate to escape these abuses, sought help from Mexican consulates in order to return to their country of origin.
Cooperation between Colombian and Mexican authorities has been instrumental in achieving this important breakthrough in the fight against the organized crime that is becoming increasingly common in Colombia.
Mexican authorities are expected to begin the process of extraditing Fernandez Viamonte to answer for his crimes in his home country. In the meantime, Colombian investigators continue to delve deeper into the scope of the criminal operations he was carrying out in their territory.