14ymedio, Mexico City, 7 July 2024 — A Cuban, Cristóbal Paulino Fernández, was arrested on July 4 for the crime of human trafficking and organized crime, the Mexican Attorney General’s Office (FGR) confirmed through a statement. The arrested man was transferred from Colombia to Mexico. Fernández Viamonte, who presented himself as a businessman, was pointed out as the leader of a network that operated in three Yucatan bars that belonged to him – Candela, Bandidas and Bar Tropicana Angus – in addition to three ‘dating houses’ (brothels). All these sites were searched by the police last Thursday, and eight victims of Colombian origin were rescued.
#FGR a través de #FEVIMTRA, ejecutó orden de cateo para seis inmuebles en Mérida, #Yucatán, y se logró la recuperación de ocho víctimas de trata de personas, de nacionalidad colombiana. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/lrR4Hfp6mQ
— FGR México (@FGRMexico) July 5, 2024
On the same day, Soledad “A” was arrested, who was designated as “the main operator in the city of Mérida,” according to data offered by the rescued women. The victims indicated that they were forced to prostitute themselves under threats.
The investigations against the Cuban for human trafficking began in 2022. The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in Crimes of Violence against Women, Vulnerable Groups and Human Trafficking (Fevimtra) opened the investigation folder YUC/0000779 for an anonymous complaint. The “dark business” linked to Fernández Viamonte was mentioned, who also promoted artists’ concerts through the PF Group.
One of the lines of investigation of th