Sex Trafficking in Belize City (2023)

A sex trafficking case from 2023 in Belize City, Belize. 1 source on file.

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What happened

Belizean authorities identified 17 confirmed trafficking victims in 2023, most of whom were exploited in sex trafficking. Identified and potential victims included women and girls from Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. Sex traffickers in Belize exploit local and foreign victims, particularly Central Americans, in bars, nightclubs, hotels and brothels. Accused: Sex traffickers operating in Belize, including operators connected to commercial sex establishments.

Response and intervention

Belize Police anti-trafficking unit. Limited arrests; transit trafficking difficult to prosecute. Haven House Belize.

Sources

Amandala Belize (opens in a new tab)

Nearby cases

All 4 in Belize →

CSEC2012

Belize City, Belize, 2012

Belize BZ

According the Magistrates Court, fifty-four year old naturalized Belizean, Narciza Orellana of Santa Elena Town was found guilty on January 31, 2012 of Attempted Trafficking in Persons. Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith sentenced Orellana to eighteen months in prison. The charge is in relation to an incident on April 26, 2010 when Orellana attempted to recruit a female minor with intentions to use her as a commercial sex worker.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

CSEC2012

Belize City, Belize, 2012

Belize BZ

On or about February 10, 2012, Yolanda Garcia, 41, was convicted and given a custodial sentence for trafficking of persons by Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith. Garcia is a hair dresser and manager of the La Serenita Bar located on Regent Street West. She is also a mother of three. According to the police, from June 29 to July 6 of 2010, she engaged in the trafficking of persons when she hired a 17 year-old female minor to work in her bar. The minor told police that she had just graduated from high school. This minor also said that Garcia allegedly told her that part of her job description is that she is required to have sex with customers for money.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking2005

Cow Pen, Belize, 2005

Belize BZ

-Walter Swazo: 24 year old male/ Honduran national. Common law husband of Celia Garcia (Co-trafficker with sister of victim) -Celia Garcia: 21 year old female/ Belizean national. Sister of victim (Co-trafficker with Walter Swazo) -Juan Santos Martinez: Salvadoran national. Purchased victim as personal sex slave Both Garcia and Swazo "sold" the victim (younger sister of Garcia) to Salvadoran national Juan Santos Martinez for an undisclosed price in Northern Belize. Once purchased the victim was transported through Guatemala into El Salvador as a sex slave/teenage bride to Martinez.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016