Police officers in Juliaca, Peru, have rescued three women and arrested three men during an in-flagrante operation into suspected human trafficking at a bar on Jiron Antonio de Zela.
The law enforcement intervention targeted an establishment operating behind closed doors near the Guillermo Briceno stadium. Officers detained three men identified as Anderson Holguin Huanca, Jose Donis Vargas, and Alberto Lobaton, who are suspected of being in charge of the business.
According to preliminary information provided by authorities, the three rescued women are aged between 18 and 31. Investigators reported that the victims were being forced to work as hostesses inside the venue.
Preliminary reports state that the women were required to encourage customers to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. In exchange for enticing patrons to drink, the hostesses received a percentage of the revenue generated from those alcohol sales.
Police intervention and legal proceedings
The police raid was conducted in flagrante, apprehending the suspects while the alleged offenses were taking place inside the closed establishment. Under Peruvian criminal procedure, flagrante delicto interventions allow authorities to take immediate enforcement action when a crime is detected in progress.
Following the arrests, official responsibility for the case was transferred to the Specialised Prosecutor's Office for Human Trafficking Crimes in Puno. The specialized prosecutorial unit is executing preliminary procedures to establish individual criminal liability as the Ministry of Public Prosecution advances its legal case.
Location near Guillermo Briceno stadium
The operation took place along Jiron Antonio de Zela, a street situated in close proximity to the Estadio Guillermo Briceno Rosamedina. The stadium is a prominent landmark in central Juliaca, serving as a major venue for regional sporting events and public gatherings.
Background on Juliaca and Puno region
Juliaca is the largest city and commercial capital of the Puno region, located on the Collao Plateau in southeastern Peru at an altitude of more than 3,800 meters above sea level. Situated near Lake Titicaca and the border with Bolivia, the city acts as a principal transportation and trade crossroads for the southern Andean highlands.
The Specialised Prosecutor's Office for Human Trafficking Crimes operates under Peru's Public Ministry to combat forced labor and exploitation across the country. Specialized prosecution branches work alongside national police to conduct targeted inspections of commercial venues and hidden establishments in regional economic centers.
