Guatemalans Nabbed For Sex Trafficking, Human Smuggling

Guatemalan police cuff Ponce and escort Garcia

News Americas, GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, Fri. April 24, 2015: Three Guatemalans who allegedly ran a human smuggling and trafficking ring have been iced.

Edwin Obdulio Milian Garcia, Maria Cecilia Ponce and Magaly Guzman Godoy allegedly ran a human smuggling and trafficking ring that charged would-be Central American “customers” the equivalent of anywhere between $7,000 and $10,000 in U.S. currency.

They were operating a transnational criminal organization operating in El Naranjo, La Libertad and Peten, Guatemala.

The smuggled Central Americans moved from their respective countries to Cancun, Mexico, via ground or private air transportation and were ultimately illegally smuggled into the United States through either McAllen or Houston, Texas. The investigation also revealed that the minor females being smuggled were being sexually abused.

If convicted, all three charged face up to 20 years in prison.

Guatemalan law enforcement officials and special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Attaché Office in Guatemala.

“Tragically, this is another case that demonstrates the callousness of these criminals,” said HSI Guatemala Attaché Angel Ortiz. “We continue discouraging these illegal and dangerous voyages. As seen here, smugglers don’t care about anyone but themselves. Don’t become a victim.”