These cases, in what are supposed to be resort paradises, highlight Mexico’s not-so-secret human trafficking issue.

It was an unusual scene, especially for two Mexican cities known more for beaches and tourism.
“We want justice!” shouted dozens of people gathered at dawn outside a state courthouse in the beach resort of Cancun on Thursday last week. The crowd, mostly activists, students and human rights attorneys, was pleasantly surprised when their numbers increased by the arrival of members of a bikers’ club.
Several hours later, the same protesters showed up at another state courthouse in the nearby beach resort of Playa del Carmen, chanting the same message and adding another one: “No more impunity!”
In both cases, judges would hear evidence about the state’s biggest human trafficking raid in years, involving women from as far as Argentina and Germany who were allegedly tricked into working as prostitutes.
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