I wish I had better news. I’ve written about my experience of being offered an 8-year-old girl for the night at my hotel in San Pedro de Atitlán from a man named Pedro. I sent the guy’s photo to over twenty agencies and eventually heard from a man at the embassy in Guatemala.
Six weeks ago they’d sent an undercover agent to the hotel and he was given the same offer: “Do you want an 8 year-old girl for the night?” My contact told me they were organizing a raid but had to wait on the government to authorize it. I hadn’t heard anything from him in awhile but got in touch last week. I had to email him a few times but he finally responded back: “Pedro got fired from his job — too many complaints about him overcharging and stealing. He’s driving a tuk tuk now.”
And this is why I didn’t go to the local police: someone in the force heard that Pedro was being watched and warned him. Agents have tried twice to bait him but he’s laying low. The fix is in.
It’s so frustrating and it makes me sick but it’s become a waiting game.
You can find the original post here:
So I Almost Murdered Someone Yesterday
Follow Up Part 1
Follow Up Report on Guatemalan Child Trafficking
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That is hard to hear but terribly enough, expected.
You deserve a heartfelt thank you for the attempt and persistence man.
I just wish it had gone down another way.
-Tim
This is horrific. It really brings it home in a very brutal way when you hear about it from someone’s first-hand experience. And the way it’s institutionalised is even worse. As slim as the possibility is, I hope you hear some good news about this soon.
Man that is messed up! Heartbreaking :(
so glad to hear a follow up on this. I hope karma eats him alive!
That is hard to hear but terribly enough, expected.