EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Police in the Mexican coastal resort of Puerto Vallarta have arrested two women and taken custody of 14 suspected victims of human trafficking.
The arrests went down this week following a months-long investigation on a health spa in the Diaz Ordaz neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, where young adult and underage females allegedly provided sexual services to customers, according to the Mexican Attorney General’s Office.
Mexican officials identified one of the detainees only as Ruth N. and said the other female in custody is under 18. Ruth N. faces human trafficking charges.
A video released by the AG’s Office shows several young women wearing shorts or minidresses being escorted out of the spa while police officers with rifles stand by.
The AG’s Office said police raided the unnamed spa after obtaining information that minors were being sexually exploited there. A statement says Ruth N. was arrested in “flagrant” commission of a crime – supervising the sex workers.
Puerto Vallarta municipal officials earlier this year met with representatives of 65 hotels, bars and other visitor-oriented business to discourage sex tourism and prevent the sexual exploitation of minors.
A child protection advocate in February told city officials Puerto Vallarta is second in Mexico when it comes to sex crimes involving minors. A second advocate a month later told local news media child sex exploitation is a major problem in the city and that 15 hotels are now taking part in a program to prevent guests from bringing in minors who aren’t legally related to them.
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