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Foreigner Arrested in Medellin for Sexual Exploitation Network Involvement

Efforts to make Colombia, and particularly Medellin, a safer environment for locals and foreigners continue to bear fruit thanks to international cooperation to identify, track, and arrest foreign citizens involved in child abuse crimes.

For this reason, on July 21st, Colombian authorities arrested Mexican-American citizen Iván Lozano in Medellín, who is wanted by the United States for being part of a child sexual exploitation network, as reported this Monday by the director of the Police, General Carlos Fernando Triana.

How Was This Capture, Which Will Lead To Dismantling This Sexual Exploitation Network?

The recent capture of Iván Lozano, in addition to being a forceful blow against transnational crime and the sexual exploitation of minors, is also the result of recent measures taken by authorities in cooperation with international entities through initiatives such as “Angel Watch,” where authorities can get into database from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) along with other measures and strategies consolidated by the visit of the Mayor of Medellín to the U.S, Federico Gutiérrez.

US authorities wanted Lozano for the crimes of seduction of minors and possession of child pornography, which led to his arrest being carried out at the José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, thanks to an Interpol red notice. General William Castaño, commander of the Metropolitan Police, said that Iván Lozano, 39, was captured when he intended to travel to Mexico, trying to confuse the authorities by buying airline tickets to two different destinations.

“The detainee is accused of being part of a criminal network dedicated to sexual exploitation and distribution of child pornography through social media for economic purposes. Currently, WhatsApp conversations held by the arrested individual with a 15-year-old adolescent are being investigated. He requested intimate videos and photographs from the minor, and then, after gaining his trust, arranged a sexual encounter to abuse him. Subsequently, he profited from the graphic content he obtained”, General William Castaño said.

Following his arrest, Lozano was immediately placed at the disposal of the Fiscalía General de la Nación, which, through its international affairs office, will manage his extradition to the United States, the country that requires him.

What is the Impact of Iván Lozano's Capture?

This arrest is part of a broader effort by Medellín and its surrounding municipalities to intensify the fight against child exploitation, especially those who work in a sexual exploitation network. With Lozano’s detention, the critical number of 18 arrests made with an Interpol Red Notice in Medellín and its surroundings so far this year. The Secretary of Security of Medellín, Manuel Villa Mejía, emphasized that “there is no refuge for criminals here; we are going after every bandit who attacks our children, no matter what country they come from.”

According to El Colombiano, the inadmission figures are conclusive: in January 2025 alone, there were 53 inadmissions of foreigners attempting to enter Medellín who were reported for sex crimes, doubling the figure for the entire year 2024, which was 27 inadmissions. Last March, at least seven cases of foreigners were reported as inadmissible for appearing on the Angel Watch list or a new list created by the Mayor’s Office of Medellin.

What Other Arrests Have Recently Been Made Through Interpol Red Notice?

In addition to Lozano, other recent arrests with an Interpol red notice in the region include the detention of a Venezuelan citizen in the Estación Villa neighborhood of Medellín, wanted by Paraguay for the crimes of sexual coercion and rape after assaulting his ex-partner. Also noteworthy is the capture in Rionegro of a Canadian citizen sought for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, who would be a key piece of a transnational network that manipulated electronic equipment such as cell phones by altering their identification number (IMEI) to facilitate their resale in markets in Asia and the Middle East, such as China, the United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong.

It’s important to remember as well that Medellín has made history this year by becoming the first non-capital city in the world to host an Interpol headquarters, so any crime, and especially those involving sexual exploitation networks, can’t affect local residents and visitors, maintaining the safety and well-being of everyone. This significant milestone has greatly bolstered the city’s ability to apprehend international criminals attempting to evade justice by seeking refuge in the region, underscoring the effectiveness of Medellín’s proactive strategy to prevent the city from becoming a haven for foreign criminals, marking a decisive step towards enhancing security and stability in the area.

What Additional Measures Are the Authorities Implementing for People Willing to Come to Colombia?

Authorities continue to reinforce the technical scope and use of technological tools for the prevention of these types of crimes, advocating for constant monitoring of areas where these criminal acts occur most frequently and where the minor population is more vulnerable and susceptible to falling into sexual exploitation networks, attempting to decrease and quell the scandalous number of 4,375 cases of sexual violence against minors in the first quarter of 2025. Likewise, awareness, dissemination, and cooperation campaigns have been constantly carried out between locals and authorities, so that, at the slightest indication or presence of these crimes, the civilian population becomes a key ally in the actions of the authorities.

Additionally, in migratory terms, and especially for those foreigners who are applying for a Colombian visa, they should be aware that the authorities have implemented several strategies to combat this type of crime, including denials of entry to foreigners with criminal records, especially those related to sexual offenses. That is why it is urgent and necessary for foreigners who are applying for a Colombian visa inside or outside the country to obtain their criminal record certificate, whose equivalent for Americans is the FBI Background Check, in advance.

FBI Background Check Service

Filling out the FBI form
Fingerprinting (Medellín and Bogotá)
International shipment to USA
FBI criminal record certificate
Authentication of the certificate through a public notary in the USA
Apostille certificate
Official translations into Spanish

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The Bottom Line: Foreigner Arrested in Medellin for Sexual Exploitation Network Involvement

The arrest of Iván Lozano in Medellín, a Mexican-American citizen wanted by the U.S. for his involvement in a child sexual exploitation network, highlights Colombia’s intensified efforts, particularly in Medellín, to combat transnational crime. This capture, aided by international cooperation and initiatives like “Angel Watch” and Interpol Red Notices, underscores the city’s commitment to eradicating child sexual exploitation and preventing foreign criminals from finding refuge within its borders. Authorities are implementing stricter migratory measures, including denials of entry for foreigners with criminal records, to enhance further the safety and well-being of its residents and visitors.