Ecuadorian teen rescued from alleged trafficking in Peru

Ecuadorian police announced Sunday the successful rescue of a teenage girl in Peru, who they say was a victim of human trafficking. The operation, a collaboration between Ecuadorian and Peruvian police forces with support from the organization OUR Rescue, also resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old Ecuadorian.

The investigation was initiated after a complaint was filed with the prosecutor's office in El Carmen, a municipality in the coastal province of Manabí. According to police, the victim was manipulated and deceived into leaving her home on June 4. Her alleged traffickers financed her international travel and provided her with a fake identity document, enabling her to bypass border controls and travel to Lima.

Authorities indicated that the alleged captor is believed to be part of Los Choneros, one of Ecuador's oldest and largest criminal organizations. The group operates both within Ecuador and internationally, suggesting the minor's transfer was orchestrated by an organized human trafficking network. The rescue and arrest took place in the Carmen de la Legua-Reinoso district in Peru's Callao province.