With this announcement, a “modeling agency” recruited girls who dreamed of being models, but ended up being victims of rape and child pornography in Costa Rica.
Authorities point out that this propaganda was stuck on light posts of vulnerable areas to attract new victims. According to the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), 26 Costa Rican victims from 9 to 17 years old have been identified.
Many people want to see children become a star but that is not so simple. Seeing ads stuck on a light post claiming to look for talent is not normal… (Real agencies) are not going to go to neighborhoods or put ads on light posts,”
said the deputy prosecutor against organized crime, Francisco Fonseca.
After eight raids, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) found clear evidence linking five Costa Ricans to rape of minors and child pornography production in the country. The officers found objects that are part of the set in the videos, such as hula hulas, hats, girl clothes, sex toys and teddy bears.
Authorities claim that these items were delivered by photographers to record clips under threat.
Another aspect that links the suspects to the crime is the series of locations described as “very particular”, containing carpets with children’s drawings, numbers and animals. “The locations are compatible with what you see in the video. In addition they used hotels, houses and the location of the agency in San José,” said Espinoza.
The victims are Costa Ricans who dreamed of becoming models. Their parents even authorized naked photographs of minors in contracts they did not read.
The material was distributed in Mexico where they arrested five subjects who directed at least 41 web sites where the material was marketed at prices ranging from $500 to $5000.