Authorities in the state of Quintana Roo rescued 14 women, alleged victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, the State Attorney General's Office (FGE) reported on Sunday. In a press release, the agency explained that the rescue took place at a property located on Avenida Miguel Hidalgo, between streets 93 and 95 in the Supermanzana 93, in the municipality of Benito Juárez. There, they found '14 women, all of Mexican nationality, who were engaged in prostitution.' According to initial investigations, clients paid 350 pesos for a drink, which included the company of one of the venue's workers, who performed sexual acts on them. They also charged 500 pesos for a 'private dance' that involved dancing naked, and if they wanted to have sexual relations, they had to pay 2,000 pesos for 15-minute services, of which the manager, Domingo 'N', kept 60 percent. During the search, agents found condoms, cash, as well as notebooks and a laptop. Following the search, agents placed the corresponding seizure seals on the property, which was placed under the custody of the FGE. The evidence found and the detainee were handed over to the Public Ministry, which will determine their legal status, while the 14 women were taken to the FGE for their protection. This comes after the U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organization (Bhardwaj HSO), based in Cancún, as well as its leader Vikrant Bhardwaj, three collaborators, and 16 companies related to its illicit operations on October 30. According to the agency, the network is accused of illegally introducing thousands of migrants from Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East into U.S. territory, and is also involved in drug trafficking, bribery, and money laundering.
