Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN
Tourists in Colombia’s Medellin are being offered sick ‘sex packages’ including the sale of young teenagers’ virginity for just over 1,400 GBP, according to an NGO.
Ariel Avila, deputy director of the NGO ‘Peace and Reconciliation Foundation’, told local media that the sex tourism network in the city of Medellin in the north-western Colombian department of Antioquia includes parties, drugs and a choice of prostitutes from an online portfolio.
Avila said that the virginity of adolescent males and females are also offered for between 1,500 and 1,800 USD (1,179 and 1,414 GBP) in the municipalities of Sabaneta, Barbosa and around Medellin.
Pictures Credit: CEN/Noticias Caracol
He said: “There is a network of pimps selling the virginity of teenagers in sex-tourism kits. It is believed that virgin minors are more expensive.”
The age of consent in Colombia is 14, however it is illegal to engage in prostitution under the age of 18.
Local media interviewed two young women who claimed that they worked as prostitutes as adolescents.
Given the fake names of Valentina and Juliana by reporters to protect their real identities, the young women confirmed the NGO’s claims and said that meetings are usually organised over social networks such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
Through social media, the clients, predominantly tourists, could request to see photos and obtain further information.
Meanwhile, the organisation behind the alleged sex packages also stages extravagant parties in large private homes where clients can meet young prostitutes, according to reports.
According to Juliana, the sex workers usually did not know who they would end up with until arriving at the party.
Valentina claimed that there are drugs and weapons at the party, adding: “You need to swallow your fear and stay because you need to.”
She added: “My family told me that I found a goldmine and to exploit it and make money like this [as a prostitute] as it is easy. It is really sad, my own mum even told me to get a rich husband or go work as a prostitute.”
According to local media, the authorities have so far arrested 20 people linked to the ring in the city of Medellin while 60 young victims have also been rescued.
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