Human trafficking is the third most sensitive crime in the world. It has to do with illegal trade of people for the purpose of sexual and labor exploitation, illegal extraction of organs, begging and irregular adoption.
In Costa Rica, sexual exploitation is the most common form. According to data from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), in the last eight years more than 200 cases of trafficking were reported, of which more than half had a sexual nature.
In 2018 alone, 53 cases were investigated by the Trafficking in Persons and Illicit Trafficking of Migrants Unit of the OIJ.
Freddy Chacón, head of investigation at the unit, explains that since 2012 the institution has a special unit for this crime, created in order to efficiently track all the cases and thus eradicate this scourge.
During the past year, more than 70 operations were carried out and in 2017 a total of 99 people were arrested and 18 were sentenced to prison.
One of the greatest challenges in the country regarding human trafficking is ignorance. It is important that people know they can report any suspicion through any of the multiple channels, and that they do it,”
said Chacón.
People can report the cases face- to- face in the main building of the OIJ in San José or in any of the regional OIJ delegations in the country. In addition, there is a prosecutor’s office in the country specializing in trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
Cases can also be reported through the 9-1-1 emergency lines or through the Confidential Information Center through the 800-8000-645 line, so anyone can lodge the complaint anonymously.
The OIJ is part of the National Coalition against trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants. It is a coalition composed of more than 20 public institutions such as the Public Force, the Professional Migration Police, the National Board of Children (PANI), the National Institute for Women (INAMU), among others, that make up a team with interdisciplinary approach to address the whole issue of trafficking in persons at the State level.