Venezuelan Woman Arrested in El Paso Sex Trafficking Case

Estefania Primera, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant known as 'La Barbie', was arrested in El Paso, Texas, on September 27 for allegedly running a sex trafficking operation connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. Primera reportedly operated from the Gateway Hotel, which has been closed due to numerous complaints regarding criminal activity. Victims have accused her of drugging them with fentanyl and forcibly controlling them for prostitution, with one victim detailing a horrific gang rape incident. Law enforcement claims she used her five young children as drug mules and had previously ditched an ankle monitor after entering the U.S. illegally. The Tren de Aragua gang has been linked to various criminal activities across multiple states, including extortion, gun smuggling, and murder-for-hire plots. Following a Texas government declaration, the gang is now considered a terrorist organization due to its increasing violence and cross-border operations.