In a significant development, the flow of thousands of migrants through the perilous migratory route known as the Darien Gap has been abruptly halted. This interruption comes in the wake of the apprehension of several boat captains who were responsible for ferrying migrants to the starting point of their challenging journey through the jungle.
The disruption commenced with the capture of two boat captains in the Colombian city of Necoclí. Subsequently, the companies employing them ceased all transport services in protest. This move effectively cut off the estimated 2,000 individuals per day who enter the jungle passage with hopes of reaching the United States.
The situation has led to a buildup of as many as 8,000 people waiting to cross between Colombia and Panama, as confirmed by Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office. The office has raised concerns about the potential overwhelming of the health system and food supply due to this buildup.
Carlos Camargo Assis, the head of the office, emphasized the importance of addressing the situation before it escalates into a violation of the human rights of vulnerable migrant populations.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by officials in Latin America and the United States as they grapple with record levels of migration and the thriving migrant trafficking industry. President Joe Biden has been urging countries in Latin America to enhance enforcement measures to curb migration towards the U.S. southern border.
The Darien Gap, controlled by Colombia’s powerful Gulf Clan, remains a lawless stretch of the migratory route north. Last year, over 500,000 people crossed this treacherous terrain, originating from various countries including Venezuela, Africa, and Asia.
The captured boat captains were found to be transporting migrants for exorbitant fees, exploiting their vulnerability. These companies charged between $140 to $300 per person for a short sea journey, taking advantage of the migrants' desperate situation.
Authorities are concerned about the entrenched nature of the trafficking system in the Darien Gap, with fears that new traffickers may emerge even after capturing existing ones. The Ombudsman’s Office has expressed apprehension about the potential worsening of the situation, citing a previous incident in Necoclí where a similar buildup of migrants led to the collapse of the city.
