By Natalia Rueda 
Agents of the Attorney General’s Office, the National Navy, the National Army and the Colombian Aerospace Force arrested more than 20 members of the criminal network known as “La Agencia” (The Agency) in several cities of the country. This illegal organization was in charge of facilitating the irregular departure of Colombian and foreign citizens to Australia, Canada and the United States. In the operation, 200 Chinese, Vietnamese, Ecuadorian and Venezuelan citizens were rescued in waters near San Andres and Nicaragua.
Among those arrested were five officials from the National Navy and one from Migración Colombia, who allegedly collaborated with the network to obtain false documents and facilitate the transit of migrants throughout Colombian territory. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, ‘La Agencia’ operated through two different criminal modalities.
Modalities used by the network
The first modality consisted in the use of false visas to facilitate the movement of migrants, which was carried out by 3 women who were part of “La Agencia”. In addition, a Migration Colombia official working at the Capurganá immigration checkpoint was in charge of affixing false stamps on passports, without registering the travelers’ data in the system. The second modality involved the corruption of members of the National Navy, who accepted bribes to omit maritime signaling controls and alert the network to the location of military vessels.
The investigation of this network by the Attorney General’s Office lasted 2 years, with the help of Migración Colombia. More than 42 cell phones were intercepted in the operation. The network’s activities covered several areas that serve as hubs for migrant flows, such as Bucaramanga, Cartagena, Maicao and San Andres.
According to authorities, the routes used by La Agencia for smuggling migrants are extremely dangerous. The Darien Gap, the jungle connecting Colombia and Panama, is considered one of the most dangerous migration crossings in the world. Since 2018, at least 258 people have died or disappeared in this area. And on the other hand there is San Andres Island which has also become a key departure destination for migrants.
This is yet another case to remind us of the dangers of irregular migration and the power of criminal organizations to exploit vulnerable people seeking a better life. It also highlights the need to redouble efforts to combat migrant smuggling and corrupt practices within government institutions.
With information from El País