Virgins for sale in Colombia in 'world's biggest brothel'

Channel 4 News

18 Sept 201411:53

Summary

TLDRThe transcript reveals the dark underbelly of Medellin, Colombia, where the legacy of Pablo Escobar's drug trade has morphed into a thriving sex industry. Despite Escobar's death, the city grapples with sex tourism and the exploitation of young girls, including the shocking trade in virgins. The script follows a journalist's investigation into the city's red-light district, where even children are not safe from gangs seeking to profit from their innocence. It also features an interview with a convicted British sex offender and the harrowing account of a survivor, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect Medellin's most vulnerable.

Takeaways

🏙️ Medellin, Colombia, was once notorious for the drug baron Pablo Escobar and extreme violence in the 1990s.
🔫 The city's legacy of violence has contributed to a thriving sex industry, with even taxi drivers involved.
🚷 Prostitution is legal in Medellin, but the age of consent is 18, leading to exploitation of underage individuals.
💸 The decline of the drug trade has pushed gangs to seek new income sources, including the trafficking of young girls.
👨‍👧 Mothers in Medellin live in fear as gangs target their young daughters for sexual exploitation.
🌐 Authorities have spent millions to clean up Medellin's image, but the problem of virgin trafficking persists.
🗣️ Local citizens have taken matters into their own hands to raise awareness of the issue through graffiti and activism.
🤝 Gang members, who control the barrios, are involved in the sex trade and are shown grooming young girls in the script.
🇬🇧 Paul Brailsford, a British citizen, was convicted for having sex with underage girls in Colombia and is serving a 20-year sentence.
👧 Naomi, one of Brailsford's victims, was only 12 years old at the time of the abuse and was groomed by him.
🛡️ The authorities' failure to address the issue has left mothers to fight for their daughters' safety and future.

Q & A

Who is Pablo Escobar and what is his connection to Medellin?
-Pablo Escobar was a notorious drug baron who ruled Medellin, Colombia through extreme violence in the 1990s, making it one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
How has the legacy of Pablo Escobar affected Medellin's current situation?
-The easy cash from the drug trade during Escobar's reign has fueled a huge sex industry in Medellin, leading to issues like underage prostitution and exploitation.
What is the legal age of consent in Colombia?
-The legal age of consent in Colombia is 18 years old.
How do the gangs in Medellin exploit young girls?
-The gangs groom young girls by inviting them to parties, giving them gifts, and eventually involving them in the sex trade.
What is the significance of the red-light district in Medellin mentioned in the script?
-The red-light district in Medellin is significant as it is a hub for the sex industry, where prostitution is legal but the age of consent is 18, leading to exploitation.
Why are mothers in Medellin living in fear according to the script?
-Mothers in Medellin are living in fear because the gangs have plans to exploit their young daughters, including selling their virginity for profit.
What is the role of taxi drivers in the sex industry in Medellin as per the script?
-Taxi drivers in Medellin are involved in the sex industry, possibly by facilitating or promoting the trade.
What is the stance of the local authorities on the issue of virgins being sold in Medellin?
-The local authorities have reportedly received information about virgins being sold but have not conducted investigations, leading to community members taking matters into their own hands.
Who is Paul Brailsford and what crime is he convicted of?
-Paul Brailsford is a British national convicted of having sex with children in Colombia. He was arrested with child pornography and accused of sleeping with underage girls.
How does the script describe the situation of young girls in Medellin's barrios?
-The script describes a dire situation for young girls in Medellin's barrios, where they are at risk of being exploited by gangs for profit, and their innocence is being taken advantage of.
What is the current state of Medellin in terms of violence and safety?
-While Medellin is less violent than it used to be, it is still not a safe place for young girls due to the ongoing issues with gangs and exploitation.

Outlines

00:00

🚔 Medellin's Dark Underbelly: A Legacy of Narco-Crime and Exploitation

This paragraph discusses the notorious past of Medellin, Colombia, which was once controlled by the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. Despite his death, the city continues to grapple with the aftermath of his reign, including a thriving sex industry fueled by the illicit cash from drug trades. The narrative focuses on the red-light district and the disturbing reality of child exploitation. It reveals the ease with which gangs groom young girls, including those below the legal age of consent, for sexual exploitation, echoing Escobar's own predilections. The city's efforts to clean up its image and move past its violent history are contrasted with the harsh reality faced by its most vulnerable residents, particularly young girls and their mothers who live in constant fear of the gangs that control their neighborhoods.

05:04

🔍 Inside Medellin's Gang-Controlled Sex Trade: The Hunt for Virgins

The second paragraph delves into the operations of Medellin's main gang, which has inherited Pablo Escobar's criminal empire. The gang's activities include drug dealing, extortion, and the sex trade. The narrative describes how the gang members easily approach and groom young girls, demonstrating the shocking ease with which they can manipulate vulnerable teenagers into providing their contact information. The paragraph also includes an interview with Paul Brailsford, a British national convicted of sex crimes against minors in Colombia. Brailsford discusses his arrest and conviction, expressing his innocence and claiming he was unaware of the girls' true ages, highlighting the complexity and tragedy of the situation faced by both the victims and the perpetrators.

10:09

📢 The Fight for Innocence: Mothers and Survivors Confront Medellin's Exploitation

The final paragraph shifts focus to the personal stories of survivors and the mothers fighting for their daughters' safety. It contrasts the city's efforts to appear safer and more welcoming to tourists with the ongoing danger faced by young girls in the barrios. The narrative includes an interview with a survivor, Naomi, who was groomed and abused by Paul Brailsford when she was only 12. Her account, along with the mother's perspective, underscores the urgent need for action against the exploitation of children. The paragraph concludes with a call to close down the operations that prey on innocence, reflecting the ongoing struggle against the dark undercurrents of Medellin's past and present.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Medellin

Medellin is a city in Colombia, South America, which gained notoriety in the 1990s due to the drug baron Pablo Escobar. The city's violent past, characterized by shootings, car bombings, and murders, is a central theme of the video. The script discusses how Medellin is still grappling with the aftermath of this violence, particularly in terms of the sex industry and the exploitation of young girls.

💡Pablo Escobar

Pablo Escobar was a notorious Colombian drug lord who controlled the Medellin Cartel and was responsible for significant violence in the city during the 1990s. His legacy is explored in the video, highlighting how his reign of terror has left a lasting impact on the city, including the rise of a sex industry that capitalizes on the city's dark history.

💡Drug Wars

The term 'drug wars' refers to the violent conflicts between drug cartels and law enforcement, or between rival drug cartels, over drug trafficking routes and territories. The video script mentions that while the epicenter of the drug wars has shifted to Mexico, Medellin continues to suffer from the consequences of its past involvement in the drug trade.

💡Sex Industry

The 'sex industry' in the context of the video refers to the commercial sex trade in Medellin, which has been fueled by the influx of easy cash from the drug trade. The script discusses the legal status of prostitution in the city and the problematic aspects of this industry, such as the exploitation of underage girls.

💡Red-light District

A 'red-light district' is an area where prostitution is concentrated and often tolerated by local authorities. The video script describes Medellin's red-light district as a place where the sex industry thrives, and where the exploitation of young girls, including those below the legal age of consent, is a significant issue.

💡Prostitution

Prostitution is the act or practice of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. The video script discusses the legality of prostitution in Medellin and how it has become a significant part of the city's economy, with complex implications for the city's social fabric and the welfare of its young residents.

💡Age of Consent

The 'age of consent' is the legally defined age at which a person is considered old enough to consent to sexual activity. In the video, it is mentioned that the age of consent in Colombia is 18, yet the script highlights the presence of underage individuals in the sex industry, indicating a gap between the law and its enforcement.

💡Gangs

Gangs in the video script refer to organized criminal groups that have taken over the control of certain areas in Medellin, including the sex trade. They are depicted as a force that perpetuates the exploitation of young girls, turning a blind eye to the legal age of consent and profiting from illegal activities.

💡Virgins

In the context of the video, 'virgins' refers to a shocking aspect of the sex trade in Medellin, where there is a market for underage girls who are sold for sexual exploitation, often at a premium. The script reveals the disturbing reality that some sex tourists are willing to pay for such encounters, and that gangs facilitate this trade.

💡Grooming

Grooming is the process by which a perpetrator builds trust with a child or young person to prepare them for abuse. The video script includes an example of a convicted sex offender who groomed young girls, illustrating the manipulative tactics used to lure and exploit vulnerable individuals.

💡Legal Age of Consent

As mentioned in the video script, the legal age of consent in Colombia is 18. This term is crucial as it sets the legal boundary for sexual activity, yet the script reveals that this law is not always respected or enforced, particularly in the context of the sex industry and the exploitation of young girls.

Highlights

Medellin, Colombia was made infamous by drug baron Pablo Escobar and his reign of extreme violence in the 1990s.

Despite Escobar's death, Medellin continues to grapple with the legacy of its violent past.

The drug trade's easy cash has fueled a massive sex industry in Medellin.

Prostitution is legal in Medellin, but the age of consent is 18, leading to a complex legal situation.

The demand for virgins has created a shocking new trade, causing fear among mothers in Medellin.

Gangs in Medellin have shifted from drug trade to controlling the sex trade, including virgin trafficking.

Authorities have spent millions to clean up Medellin's image and attract tourists.

Locals have taken matters into their own hands due to lack of official action against virgin trafficking.

Gang members demonstrate how easily they can identify and groom young girls for exploitation.

The life expectancy of gang members is low, and they operate with a sense of having nothing to lose.

Paul Brailsford, a British citizen, was convicted for having sex with underage girls in Colombia.

Brailsford claims innocence, stating he believed the girls were older than they were.

Naomi, one of Brailsford's victims, was only 12 when he groomed and abused her.

The legal age of consent in Colombia is 18, a fact that Brailsford seems to overlook.

The authorities' failure to confront the virgin trade leaves mothers to fight for their daughters' safety.

While Medellin is safer for tourists, young girls in the barrios face exploitation by gangs.