[VIDEO] The Walking Dead Star Goes Undercover In Real-Life Child Prostitution Bust
Actress Laurie Holden took part in a dangerous undercover operation to bust a child sex trafficking ring in Colombia, resulting in the arrest of five suspected traffickers.
By Samantha Khor — 17 Oct 2014, 04:31 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
Actress Laurie Holden, who played Andrea in hit TV series The Walking Dead, had a vital role in a recent undercover operation to bring down a child sex trafficking ring in Colombia
Holden is part of Operation Underground Railroad, a volunteer organization that aims to hunt down and arrest child sex traffickers. The group recently traveled to Cartagena, Colombia, where it aided authorities in breaking up a major sex-trafficking ring that used drugs to force underage boys and girls into prostitution
Prostitution is legal in Colombia and widespread, but the country’s tolerance for prostitution does not extend to children or the people who traffic in children. Those who do face up to 16 years in prison.
go.comCoordinated by volunteer organization Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) in collaboration with the Colombian police force, the sting operation was led by OUR founder and CEO, Tim Ballard
American Tim Ballard helped authorities in Colombia bust a major sex-trafficking ring, saving 54 children.
Image via CBS News OnlineBallard is a former CIA operative and former Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security specializing in child sex trafficking cases. He has worked undercover in the United States as well as in multiple foreign countries to infiltrate child trafficking organizations. In this effort he has successfully dismantled dozens of these organizations and rescued countless children from sex slavery.
“I spent 12 years as a special agent, undercover operative for the United States government, doing this, and learned how to do it,” Ballard said. “The problem was that the vast majority of the kids that we would identify, we couldn't save. They weren't U.S. cases.”
go.comBesides Holden and Ballard, the undercover team was made up of some off-the-books operatives and regular civilians, including two Crossfit instructors and a door-to-door salesman
Screencap from ABC: Ballard (far left), Holden (2nd from right) and some volunteers for the undercover operation in discussion.
Image via imgur.comThe operation was set in a lavish multi-million dollar mansion in Cartagena, where Ballard acted as an enthusiastic best man looking to hire a number of underage prostitutes from a sex trafficker named Marcus Bronschidle for a "bachelor party"
Ballard told an alleged sex trafficker named Marcus Bronschidle that he was looking to hire a score of underage prostitutes for a "bachelor party" in the northern coastal town of Cartagena.
"The cover was meant to lure the sex traffickers into a setup so that Ballard and his team could rescue the girls, many of whom were under 18," ABC News reported.
Screencap from ABC: The mansion was decorated with colourful signs and balloons to create the illusion of a teenage girl's birthday party.
Image via imgur.comOn the day of the party, Ballard’s team got the house ready. They even hung a sign outside with balloons, like a teenager’s birthday party, so the traffickers wouldn’t seem out of place bringing young girls into the house.
go.comFor the traffickers to be prosecuted, the team needed to capture evidence of them accepting money for the girls red-handed. The mansion was wired with sound and video via hidden cameras to document the transaction.
Holden's role was to keep the girls occupied in the pool area while the undercover team and Colombian authorities waited for the transaction to take place
Screencap from ABC: Holden donned a brown wig to ensure that no one recognised her.
Image via imgur.comHolden, who was trained by a Navy SEAL in The Walking Dead, went incognito for the undercover operation and donned a brown wig to ensure that she wouldn't be recognised.
It wasn’t the 44-year-old’s first time performing this kind of heroic work: She told Nightline that she has also spent time in Cambodia helping girls get out of brothels.
nydailynews.comAs Bronschidle and the girls started arriving, the Colombian authorities hid in the shadows while Ballard and co. waited for the money to exchange hands. As soon as it happened, the police stormed into the mansion in the guise of a raid to bust the party.
When questioned, Bronschidle insisted that the whole thing was a misunderstanding, insisting that none of the girls were underage. "I was lying because I wanted him to be happy with the girls that I found, okay, but no, I did not - there's not a single girl here that's underage, I promise you that," he said."
go.comThe sting operation was a success. Five alleged traffickers were arrested and 30 girls - 17 of whom are under 18 - were rescued.
American Tim Ballard helped authorities in Colombia bust a major sex-trafficking ring, saving 54 children.
Image via CBS NewsVoice of America reported that the group's work in Colombia had contributed to the arrest of 12 suspects and rescued 55 sex-trafficking victims, one of whom was only 11 years old. All the victims are now in the care of Colombia's child protection agency. The Colombian defendants face between five and 20 years imprisonment if convicted.
Post-mission, Holden opened up about her undercover experience. "When they first showed up, some of them looked really terrified," the actress said. "I talked to a few of them and asked them how old they were. Some were 12. Some were 13. Most were 14.”
“One of the girls came in, embraced me, started to cry, then I started to cry,” she added, before becoming overcome with emotion.
nydailynews.com"What makes me is sad is that yes, we got four traffickers, and I hope they fry," Holden said. "But what makes me sad is that so many of these little girls, they don't know any different. I know we did some good tonight. But I know that more needs to be done."
nydailynews.comThe organization had previously led successful sting operations in the US, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Guatemala, amongst others
A group of filmmakers, led by Chet Thomas and Darrin Fletcher, have been following them, documenting the missions on hidden cameras for a new film, "The Abolitionists" and gathering evidence to hand over to authorities.
go.com