Arrests made in deaths of at least 11 Juarez girls, women

Suspects of an alleged prostitution ring in Juarez have been arrested in connection with the deaths of at least 11 young girls and women.

The bodies were discovered in January 2012 in the desert of the Juarez valley, located across the border from the Fort Hancock area. Many of the girls were reported missing since 2009.

The dozen suspects, including two women, were arrested this week by Chihuahua State Police after more than a year-long investigation.

Several business owners in Downtown Juarez are accused of luring or “hooking” the young women and girls, by offering them false job opportunities.

The Chihuahua State Attorney General’s Office said among those involved were Jose Antonio Contreras Terrazas who allegedly forced the girls to sell drugs.

If they did not come up with enough money, he reportedly killed them.

Camilo Del Real Buendia, the owner of a modeling agency, reportedly promised girls appearances in television commercials. The girls would eventually be turned over to others involved in the prostitution ring.

Mexican authorities said once the women were of no use to the prostitution ring, they were killed. Their bodies were dumped in an arroyo in the Juarez valley.

The rest of the suspects held several jobs within the prostitution ring, some of them responsible for making sure the women sold drugs downtown.

Two women, one who was a manager at a hotel were in charge of the young girls while they were forced to meet with clients in hotel rooms.

All twelve suspects face homicide and human trafficking charges.