Police Rescue Two Colombian Women From Lagos Trafficking Hideout as Suspects Escape
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued two Colombian women allegedly trafficked into the country and held captive by a suspected human trafficking syndicate in Lagos, though the suspected traffickers, said to include Chinese nationals, fled the scene before they could be apprehended.
The victims were identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, both Colombian nationals. According to a statement issued on Saturday by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the rescue followed actionable intelligence received on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Bogotá, Colombia, concerning the whereabouts of the two women. Acting on the intelligence, operatives attached to the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, immediately launched a covert tracking operation.
According to police, the two women had been fraudulently lured to Nigeria under false pretences before being held against their will, with their travel documents subsequently confiscated by members of the syndicate, identified by police as Chinese nationals who remain at large. “The victims were fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated by certain Chinese nationals who are currently at large,” Iniedu said in the statement.
The covert operation led detectives to a suspected criminal hideout in Lagos, where both victims were safely rescued on the same day the intelligence was received. Police said the suspected traffickers abandoned the location upon noticing the approaching law enforcement team, managing to escape before they could be arrested. “The fleeing suspects abandoned the location upon sighting the approaching team, and efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” the statement added.
Following their rescue, the two women have been placed in safe custody and are said to be receiving the necessary support from authorities. According to police, the Colombian Embassy in Accra is working closely with the NCB-INTERPOL to arrange temporary hotel accommodation for the victims and facilitate the issuance of emergency travel documents to enable their safe return to Bogotá.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents in the country, while also deepening collaboration with international law enforcement partners in tackling cross-border crimes. Police say efforts remain ongoing to identify, track and arrest all members of the trafficking syndicate, including the Chinese nationals alleged to have been involved in confiscating the victims’ travel documents, as the investigation into the case continues.
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