Panama a transit country for human trafficking; Many come from Africa

Experts estimate that over 80,000 individuals are trafficked each year, and that Panama has become a major transit country. According to TVN Noticias, many individuals involved in these operations pay high sums to be taken to a new country. Many of those trafficked in Panama come from Africa via the Atlantic Ocean. Security forces in the Caribbean have been applying techniques used to track drug traffickers to catch human trafficking in the region. Many victims arrive in Colombia, and instead of making it to Panama, are left to their fate and to deal with local criminals. In 2011, the following victims were found in Panama:  39 from Bangladesh, 72 from Eritrea, 69 from Somalia, 57 from Colombia, 10 from Nepal, eight from Ethiopia, seven from India, two from Ghana, two from Sierra Leone, two from New Guinea, and one from Cameroon. Read Article