Isla Mujeres, Q.R. — A rescue operation in the ongoing battle against human trafficking was carried out over the weekend on the island. State officials reported Monday on the rescue of 11 women hired as waitresses and hostesses from an Isla Mujeres bar.
Aroshy Lugo Arana, Special Prosecutor for Proceedings, reported that while executing a search warrant at a property operating as a bar, they located 11 Mexican women.
All 11 women, she said, are believed to be victims of human trafficking in the form of forced prostitution.
The women were found working inside a bar located on Rueda Medina Avenue between Boca Nueva and Isla Blanca streets of the island, she said.
“Where the women were found, they were allegedly forced to provide sexual services,” she added.
“According to initial investigations, the women are single mothers, lacking education, who came to the bar on the recommendation of friends under the argument that it was a place where they could earn a lot of money,” she explained.
“When they started working at the establishment, they worked as waitresses and hostesses, attending to customers, offering them drinks for a cost of between 150 and 300 pesos, of which they were given between 120 and 70 pesos.
“However later, they were forced to perform sexual services for which they charged between 1,500 and 2,500 pesos.
“Of the money they earned for sexual services, the establishment’s managers kept half. They also had to pay 700 pesos to rent the room where they attended to clients; likewise, if they missed work, they were fined.”
During the operation, agents seized DVDs with adult content, a laptop, various documents, notebooks and cash.
The island bar has been sealed closed by the state, which will remain under the custody of the FGE.
The 11 women received support and legal advice from the Executive Commission for Attention to Victims of the State of Quintana Roo.
