“Char” for Borderland Beat
This article reposted from NOROESTE
A citizen complaint led authorities to search the site located in La Reforma, where they found 39 people being held against their will.
The 39 people who were rescued from a rehabilitation center in La Reforma, Angostura, were allegedly being held against their will and forced to work in agricultural fields and shrimp farms.
Authorities announced that the Mexican Navy and the State Preventive Police carried out the rescue operation after receiving a citizen’s report.
It was a woman who approached the uniformed officers to denounce that in the alleged center called “Grupo de Rehabilitadores Hermanos Unidos A.C.”, they were holding her relative against his will and forcing him to work in the fields, according to a press release.
“For this reason, in a coordinated manner, Semar and PEP personnel went to the indicated site, and upon arrival they met with three people who were outside the building; at that moment they heard cries for help coming from inside, so they asked to enter, which was achieved when they were given access,” it says.
Upon entering, they noticed the presence of 39 men, who gave multiple testimonies of being involuntarily admitted to work as day laborers in agricultural and shrimp fields without being paid, in addition to being beaten as punishment.
They also pointed out the three civilians who were outside as the people in charge of the center, who were detained, according to the authorities.
The complainants and the accused were handed over to the agents of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Specializing in Violence against Women, Trafficking in Persons and Vulnerable Groups so that they can be held accountable as required by law.