By Nakiwala Barbra
Guatemalan police have raided five regional offices of the British charity Save the Children, intensifying an ongoing investigation into alleged child abuse and trafficking.
The raids, which follow a similar search of the organization’s main office in Guatemala City months earlier, are part of a wider transnational investigation into claims of child smuggling across borders.
Prosecutors in Guatemala, led by Rafael Curruchiche, have been investigating claims that the charity is involved in the smuggling of children across international borders.
The investigation reportedly stems from a request made in April to US authorities for information regarding Save the Children’s alleged involvement in child trafficking operations.
In a video statement, Curruchiche described the searches as part of a “transnational investigation of great importance,” but did not specifically name the organization. However, a spokesperson for his office later confirmed to AFP news agency that the raids targeted Save it
