Guatemalan authorities arrest police officers for involvement in migrant trafficking from Uzbekistan

Guatemala has long served as a transit hub for migrants from Latin America and beyond as they journey northward to the U.S.-Mexico border. According to Jimenez, among those arrested were two retired police officers, along with 11 civilians, all of whom face charges that include money laundering in connection with a criminal organization known as "Los Rs."

Authorities revealed that this human trafficking ring had been in operation for several years, amassing millions of quetzals, Guatemala’s national currency. "This organization leveraged police agents, corrupting them to ensure the safe passage of the migrants they trafficked through the country," Jimenez stated in a video message.

The arrests came as part of an investigation that began after two individuals were caught illegally transporting 10 migrants from Uzbekistan through Guatemala. This discovery ultimately led to the dismantling of the entire network. During the operation, four vehicles, a firearm, and an undisclosed amount of cash were seized. The authorities have not specified the origins of the migrants being trafficked or their intended destinations.

Jimenez further noted that the investigation was carried out with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), the U.S. Embassy confirmed that the human trafficking network had exploited close to 10,000 migrants.

Efforts to curb human trafficking in the region have intensified in recent months. In August, Panama initiated U.S.-funded deportation flights for migrants as part of Washington’s broader strategy to reduce the influx of people traveling to the U.S. southern border in search of better economic opportunities and safety. Around the same time, Guatemalan and U.S. authorities jointly dismantled another human smuggling network linked to the tragic deaths of 53 migrants in a Texas truck in 2022.