Frontera NorteSur February 2000

U.S Child Pornography Ring Hits Cd. Juárez and Border Region

The introduction of child pornography via video has turned Cd. Juárez into a hotspot for porn peddlers eager to push the smuggled contraband for easy profit. Although the introduction of the material has been slow, Cd. Juárez has become an important focal point because of its geographical location and the financial opportunity that such a location has to offer.

Armando de Leon Lugo, state delegate for the Authors and Musicians Protection Agency, stated that the recent influx of obscene material puts Cd. Juárez in a very unusual position since additional child pornographic material has made its way into the city from Guatemala. Lugo added that it has become quite complicated to keep such material out of Cd. Juárez due to the clever ways in which the material has been smuggled, i.e. the border bridge crossings. Unlike drugs and other illegal items, most border patrol agents are generally not on the look out for videotape material.

Recently the material has surfaced on the local market shelves throughout Cd. Juárez where unsuspecting merchants sell the disguised porn tapes at low bargain prices. Many of these merchants sell the material unaware of its true content and under the notion that they are ordinary entertainment materials

Another problem with controlling the material is that most of these videos are not original prints but pirated material. In recent years the issue of piracy in México has taken a political backseat since police officials have remained complacent in dealing with such matters regardless of whether the material is obscene or not, according to Lugo.

Lugo also stated that wiping out child pornography in México is yet to occur since authorities have been unable to secure or enforce anti-piracy laws. Smugglers have successfully introduced the material and haven't raised enough suspicion from U.S. customs agents, so that the laws remain unenforced.

Source:El Diario

Canadian Child Porn Case Closed

Due to a lack of evidence, Canadian immigration officials in conjunction with Canadian police have closed a decade-long child porn case involving five illegally adopted Mexican children and a Canadian couple who work in the adult film industry. Officials failed to find any evidence to charge the couple with exploitation and sexual abuse of children.

Henry James Lunn, who has been missing since the case was first brought to the attention of local authorities, illegally handed three children to Anthony and Roxanne Perry of Canada when he could no longer take care of them. In 1990 Roxanne and Anthony Perry had taken illegal custody of two other children from Lunn. The couple arranged for false documents for each child in order to obtain custody. It is unclear as to how Lunn first acquired custody of the five children.

According to Manon Eburne, Canadian police representative, Lunn's disappearance added to the recent closing of the case since police officials could not adequately conduct a thorough investigation without him. In addition to not having the required evidence, no pornographic materials had surfaced over the 10 years to prove that the five children were ever involved in making sexually explicit material.

In spite of Roxanne and Anthony Perry's unconventional way of making a living, the Ministry of Child Protection of British Columbia has decided to grant them full custody even though the only female of the five children has been diagnosed with venereal disease. The venereal disease has been attributed to her birth mother

Jo Anne Carmichael , legal representative for the Perrys, stated that her clients' business is solely for adults and a perfectly legal activity. And Mexican authorities have been assured through the help of the Mexican Consulate in Vancouver, Canada that the children are safe and were not mistreated in any way.

However, the current status of the five children has yet to be resolved because the Canadian Department of Immigration has failed to grant the children legal registration documents. The Immigration Department is skeptical about granting documents to anyone found guilty of having false documents.

Wayne Matheson, Child Adoption Protection Agency Director, stated that currently there are other adoptions taking place involving other Mexican nationals aside from those involving the couple.

Source: El Diario

Cd. Juárez Sexual Tourist Sensation Hotspot for Pedophiles

The recent economy in Cd. Juárez has lead to an increase in child prostitution for many homeless children throughout México and including the border.

Recent studies conducted by Unicef (ONU) and the Department for Human Rights found that much of the child prostitution in Cd. Juárez occurs in the most populated areas such as airports, bus stations, and the international border crossings. Other major cities where this type of activity has taken place include Tijuana, Acapulco, Cancún, and Veracruz were many pedophiles seek out young children for sex.

Ofelia Calcetas, ONU Sex Crimes Specialist, stated that keeping these tourist pockets free from child prostitution is difficult because in the past, corrupt police officials have either participated in the illicit activity or failed to enforce any type of law to deter it. Calcetas added that there is evidence indicating that police officials have also offered protection and accepted bribes from youngsters.

Víctor Carlos García, Mexican Legal State Court Representative, stated that México is already on the "escort" list of the many places where tourists can obtain easy sexual relationships with minors. The "escort" label has been used on tourist pamplets to describe all types of services including sexual prostitution involving both young boys and girls.

Daniel, a boy who participates in prostitution, stated that he along with other friends, has engaged in having sexual relationships with many male tourists. His sole objective for selling his body is survival because of the poor economy and the slim chance he has of obtaining a job in Cd. Juárez. Daniel added that he makes a good living by having the tourists take pictures and making films of their sexual encounters. According to Daniel, the reality of child prostitution is also the direct result of coming from an abusive home or having a drug abuse problem.

The ONU findings pointed out that the abuse has reached global proportions since the situation in México is quite similar to that in China and other impoverished nations throughout the world.

Source: El Diario