March 18, 2025 Update: Second Teenager Freed!
CASE UPDATE: After law enforcement freed Violet, they asked The Exodus Road’s Latin American team to follow up with another teenager they knew was trapped in the same trafficking operation. One of our investigators began a connection with 16-year-old Emmi* through a simple act of kindness: sending her a Christmas present. Building that relationship ultimately allowed police to locate and free Emmi!
Freedom for Violet* began with her phone number.
Law enforcement in Latin America identified several numbers belonging to teenagers who were being trafficked. They linked one of those numbers to Violet, a local teenager who was being forced to meet older men and accompany them to a brothel.
Through surveillance, police were able to determine where Violet was being sent next. That’s when they called on The Exodus Road to partner with them in safely removing this girl from exploitation.
When the time came for the arranged meeting, a team of investigators staked out a bus stop where Violet had been told to meet her next client. They waited patiently as minutes turned to hours, watching for a girl matching her description.
Image Representative. A team of investigators staked out a bus stop where Violet had been told to meet her next client.
Finally, Violet arrived, steeled for the terrible hours of work ahead of her. But this time, instead of abusers, she was met by help. The Exodus Road, law enforcement, and a government social worker surrounded her, promising: you are safe now.
Violet had been physically as well as sexually abused by her traffickers and threatened into silence. Because of that history, she was anxious and ashamed at first, afraid she was in trouble. But the social worker was there to reassure and transition her into the care of social services.
Restoring girls like Violet to freedom requires careful intelligence gathering and collaboration between law enforcement partners and The Exodus Road’s investigators. Because of their continued commitment to expert surveillance tactics, Violet is free!
