Overview
- The statement came during a Thursday ceremony marking the 12th anniversary of DIRITPTIM where Interior Minister César Astudillo publicly said trafficking is a form of slavery and honored specialized officers.
- Astudillo urged police to move beyond victim rescues toward intelligence-driven investigations that identify and prosecute the criminal cúpulas that sustain trafficking.
- The Defensoría del Pueblo reported 2,000 trafficking complaints filed between January and August 2026 and called for stronger prevention, victim recovery services, and legal follow-through.
- The Interior Ministry has pledged budgetary backing and technology investments to bolster PNP intelligence and operations, including a government plan to accelerate purchases of equipment for the police.
- Authorities warned that trafficking often operates linked to illegal mining and narcotrafficking in Andean and Amazon areas, and officials said lasting results will require coordinated institutions, sustained resources, and better use of the ministry's open data records.