San Cristóbal.– A total of 14 minors, ranging in age from three months to 13 years old, were rescued during two raids carried out by authorities in the Las Paredes de Haina, San Cristóbal, sector, where an alleged foundation called “Rescatando Vidas” (Rescuing Lives) was operating, the spokesperson for the National Police, Diego Pesqueira, reported this Monday.
According to Pesqueira, the operations were carried out over the past weekend by police personnel, under the coordination of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents, together with other agencies linked to the protection of minors.
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The police spokesperson explained that the children were found at the scene with signs of alleged child abuse and possible labor exploitation, while authorities are expanding investigations into the possibility of an eventual human trafficking network.
“Investigations are being expanded regarding potential human trafficking,” indicated Pesqueira, who added that so far about 20 people have been arrested, including the person who is allegedly responsible for the supposed foundation and an alleged pastor.
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A minor managed to escape and alerted the authorities
Pesqueira explained that the investigation began after a 12-year-old minor managed to escape from the place and appeared at a police station in Hato Damas, San Cristóbal, where he reported what had happened.
The minor, according to the police spokesperson, showed visible signs of abuse, a situation that triggered an immediate intervention by the authorities and subsequently led to the raids in which the other 13 minors were located.
Regarding the origin of the children and the way in which they arrived at the alleged foundation, Pesqueira pointed out that this aspect is still part of the investigations being carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
As explained, the entity allegedly presented itself as an organization dedicated to rescuing families in vulnerable conditions, which is why authorities are investigating whether this status had been used to get parents or guardians to hand over their children.
Pesqueira indicated that it will be the specialized jurisdiction for children and adolescents that will offer further details regarding the conditions in which the minors were found and the judicial process against those detained.
The authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the alleged pastor mentioned in the investigation.
