The rescue of 20 Colombians in Cambodia after three months in the custody of an international network dedicated to human trafficking highlights the threat of fake job offers and the role of technology in migrant protection.
Our compatriots were fooled by promises of legitimate jobs and attractive salaries. Most of them are from Bogota and have regained their freedom thanks to the intervention of a mobile application and cooperation between the authorities of both countries..
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The rescue operation began after one of the victims, who hid his mobile phone, managed to contact his wife in Colombia.
She followed a friend’s recommendation to use LibertApp, a free Colombian immigration application designed to report risk situations abroad. Through this tool, Citizens submitted their location information, allowing Colombian and Cambodian authorities to coordinate immediate response.
The testimonies of those affected reveal the mode of operation of the criminal network. They contacted them about an alleged vacancy on a digital platform in Cambodia and promised them a monthly salary of US$1,000.
On arrival in the Asian country, the criminals confiscated his passport and mobile phone, but never made the promised payments. for 3 months, The Colombians were cut off from communication, threatened and forced to work illegally, unable to leave or seek help..
The intervention of the Colombian Immigration Justice Police Investigation Group was decisive.
After receiving the alert through LibertApp, officials activated international cooperation channels and contacted Cambodian authorities who participated in the rescue operation.
Of the 20 nationals released, six have already returned to Bogota and are receiving institutional support at El Dorado International Airport.
Gloria Esperanza Ariello López, Director General of Colombia’s Immigration Department, emphasized the importance of technology in the fight against human trafficking and reiterated the call for prevention.
The person said the incident proves the effectiveness of LibertApp, and its use could make a difference for people at risk abroad.
Authorities urge Colombians to check job postings abroad and use available tools to report suspicious situations.
Freely available, LibertApp allows users to communicate in real time with Migración Colombia and receive immediate assistance in case of danger.
The experience of these 20 Colombians shows that prevention and access to reliable reporting channels can be critical to avoiding falling into the hands of criminal networks.
In the face of an epidemic of misleading job promises, authorities are urging the public to inform themselves, be wary of unclear offers, and take advantage of technological resources that can make the difference between risk and safety.
The Attorney General’s Office announced the opening of an investigation into Colombian immigration authorities after a Colombian infant traveled to Spain with false documents.
The case involves former Cartagena beauty queen Natalia Vidales Martello, who was supposed to have traveled to Madrid from El Dorado Airport in Bogota with her newborn son on December 21, 2024, without the father’s permission.
Sources from the Attorney General’s Office found out time They categorized events as It said it was “extremely serious” and that the rights of minors had been violated and that the authorities who allowed the children to leave the country would be investigated..
The group stressed that this case is unusual because Colombian immigration authorities have historically been strict about allowing minors to travel abroad.
The alert was triggered when Carlos Ernesto Parra Conrado, the minor’s father, discovered that his son had left the country without his consent after consulting the 6th Notary of the Cartagena Circle.
The notary public office found a discrepancy. Approximately 3,996 proceedings were filed in 2024, but the number of the certificate presented by Vidales Martello was 4,589, indicating a possible forgery.
Additionally, attorney Germán Percy, who represents Parra Conrado, said her father’s signature would also have been forged. Following judicial proceedings, the minor was returned to Colombia on August 26, 2025, by order of a family judge, after an eight-month stay abroad. In September, Parra Conrado met her son for the first time.
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