US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1302

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001302 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/G/TIP AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ELAB, SMIG, PREF, CASC, KCRM, KOCI, KWMN, HO 
SUBJECT: 4 ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
(INCLUDING MINORS) 
 
 
1.  Four Hondurans were arrested Thursday, June 9, 2005 in 
raids conducted by Honduran officials utilizing experience 
derived from INL-funded training provided to the Frontier 
Police Migration Unit.  Nancy Rosales Martinez, her husband, 
mother, and sister-in-law are charged with trafficking in 
persons; all are claiming innocence. The suspects are jailed 
in La Ceiba, and the case has been turned over to the public 
prosecutor for organized crime, Ana Dominguez. 
 
2.  Ms. Martinez, the alleged leader of the ring, and her 
husband are suspected of charging between ten and fifteen 
thousand dollars to illegally transport women (some minors) 
to the United States.  Once in the U.S., the women are 
allegedly forced to work in bars and other establishments, 
where they may be subject to sexual assault and prostitution. 
 (COMMENT: New Jersey has an outstanding warrant for Ms. 
Martinez's arrest.  She previously lived in that state, but 
fled in 2004 when her two sisters were arrested for crimes of 
forced labor and sexual exploitation.  END COMMENT.) 
 
Palmer