Colombia has emerged as a hub for the child sex tourism trade, prompting heightened scrutiny.
In an exclusive interview with Local 10 News Thursday, Anthony Salisbury, Homeland Security Investigations Miami’s Special Agent in Charge, spoke about the ongoing initiatives aimed at preventing sexual predators from utilizing Miami as a gateway to exploit some of the world’s most vulnerable children overseas.
“What we are talking about here is child sex tourism and it is not well understood and certainly an uncomfortable topic for people to talk about,” he said. “We very frequently see the United States being a launching pad for people who want to sexually exploit children overseas.”
“These people are going to other countries, typically third world, to exploit some of the most vulnerable children in the world,” Salisbury added. “They travel because they believe that there is a lack of security, they can get away with their crimes, they can conceal them easier as opposed to the very robust law enforcement apparatus we have in the United States.”
Salisbury also shed light on the gravity of child sex tourism, acknowledging its uncomfortable nature while emphasizing HSI’s extensive collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies abroad to combat these crimes through information sharing and coordinated investigations.
“Homeland Security Investigations has one of the largest presences overseas,” said Salisbury. “We work daily with federal law enforcement in these countries. We are absolutely sharing information and we absolutely investigate you from these activities. HSI does not want the United States to be a launching pad for criminals who go overseas and exploit children.”
Recent cases underscore the severity of the issue.
A Miami pharmacist, Stefan Andres Correa, was apprehended during a border search with incriminating evidence, including text messages with a suspected child sex trafficker and videos depicting sexual acts with minors.
Jail records show Correa faces charges including attempted sex trafficking of a child, revealing the alarming prevalence of such activities originating from Miami.
Authorities said just as Correa stepped onto a Miami International Airport jet bridge to board a flight to Bogotá last an outbound border search revealed the 42-year-old — traveling alone — was carrying about nine cellphones.
On some of those devices, Homeland Security Investigations agents based out of MIA would discover photos and videos of Correa raping young girls and a conversation with a sex trafficker about his plans to victimize an 11-year-old girl, prosecutors allege.
Court documents state that in a graphic series of text messages, Correa promised that both the trafficker and the girl would get $300,000 Colombian pesos — about $75 — and the girl would receive an iPhone, as long as he was allowed to rape her in Medellín.
Investigators disclosed that Correa had traveled to Colombia approximately 45 times in the past two years, a revelation that sparked outrage from Medellin’s mayor.
“Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon occurrence, particularly out of Miami,” said Salisbury.
“This is one of just many cases?” asked Local 10 News reporter Christina Vazquez.
“It falls in with one of HSI’s investigative priorities and that is child exploitation specifically child sex tourism,” Salisbury responded.
Salisbury also highlighted another arrest involving a man acting as a facilitator for child sex tourism in Colombia. This individual arranged travel logistics for predators and facilitated the procurement of minors for sexual exploitation, underscoring the sophistication of the network.
HSI agents are actively collaborating with Colombian authorities to dismantle these networks and prosecute offenders. Salisbury issued a stark warning, emphasizing that individuals seeking to exploit children abroad from Miami will face consequences.
“He would set up their airfare, get them a hotel, and even most heinously he would ask them, ‘What type of child do you want? Boy, girl, size, age?’ and he would say ‘I am going to go look for them. I am going to the town square and grab them, basically kidnap kids.”’
“Do you think it may surprise some people about how sophisticated the network of child sex tourism is?” asked Vazquez.
“I think all of it would surprise people,” said Salisbury. “Especially with cyber-enabled crimes, chatrooms, and dark web, there is a level of sophistication here that HSI has the expertise to tackle. It is more than just sharing pictures. Cyber-enabled crime has allowed the reach to broaden, allowed these child exploitation people to broaden their reach and HSI has adapted to adapt with the technology that has facilitated this crime to pursue investigations.”
HSI agents are collaborating with Colombian authorities in a joint effort to crack down on the sexual exploitation of children in Colombia. The two nations are working closely to combat this disturbing trend, with investigations underway on both sides of the border.
”You are not going to be safe traveling to foreign countries out of Miami to sexually exploit children,” said Salisbury.
Colonel Edwin Urrego Pedraza, Director of Colombia’s National Police, provided insights into ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in child exploitation. He disclosed that investigations revealed frequent travel by suspects to Colombia, with one individual making over 40 trips in two years, allegedly to establish connections with sex traffickers.
“He was arrested at the moment he thought he was going to leave the country,” said Pedraza. “He would travel solo to Colombia — more than 40 times, we learned, over two years — making contact with sex traffickers in the country.”
In the case of Correa, ongoing investigations focus on the criminal network in Medellín that supplied Correa with children for exploitation. At present, authorities say they have identified and are safeguarding at least five victims.
Both HSI and Colombian authorities share a resolute message to potential perpetrators: do not attempt to exploit children in Colombia.
They underscore that such actions will not be tolerated, emphasizing that both nations are working diligently to prevent the United States from being used as a launching pad for sex predators.
In addition, Salisbury emphasized the importance of community vigilance in combating child exploitation. He encouraged individuals to report any suspicions to the HSI tip line or local law enforcement, stressing the significance of collective action in safeguarding children.
Correa is scheduled to appear in federal court for arraignment tomorrow, according to the latest federal docket.
Local 10 News has also learned that Correa has not been employed since August 2023.
“Through HSI attachés and other offices, HSI special agents stationed internationally work with foreign governments, INTERPOL, Europol, and other counterparts to enhance coordination and cooperation on child exploitation related crimes that cross borders,” according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s website.
How we can help each other
Authorities believe working together is key to combatting child exploitation. Here’s what they say you can do to help:
• Stay informed: Use Project iGuardian and Know2Protect to identify how to safeguard our children from victimization.
• Report: Report suspected child exploitation to the HSI tip line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website.
• Support: Spread the word about the real-life impact HSI has in stopping child predators and rescuing victims.
Dealing with child sex abuse is a deeply distressing and traumatic experience for both the victim and their family. At Ovadia Law Group, we understand the sensitive nature of these cases and are committed to providing compassionate and expert legal support. Our team of experienced attorneys specializes in representing victims of child sex abuse, advocating fiercely for their rights and seeking justice against perpetrators. When you call us at 1-800-674-9396, you’ll receive a free consultation to discuss your situation and explore your legal options. We’ll listen to your story with empathy and understanding, conducting a thorough investigation to gather evidence and build a strong case on your behalf. Let Ovadia Law Group be your trusted advocate as you seek to hold accountable those responsible for the abuse and obtain the compensation and closure you deserve.
Source: Local10
