A British girl who vanished from her home has been found by police in South America.
Cops in Ecuador discovered the teen with an American man who was the topic of an Interpol notice.
She was tracked all the way down to Imbabura, an Andean province in northern Ecuador, about 70 miles north-east of the capital Quito.
Our Rescue, a non-profit organisation focused on combatting global sex trafficking and child exploitation, was also involved within the operation.
They collaborate with local law enforcement by assisting in rescue operations and providing aftercare for survivors.
Ecuador Police said:’Through investigative work carried out within the province of Imbabura and in co-ordination with Interpol and Our Rescue, we succeeded in locating and protecting a British teenager who was the topic of a global missing individuals alert.
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‘The investigations confirmed that she had entered the country and was subsequently present in the corporate of a person with dual Ecuadorian and US nationality, who was the topic of a global Interpol notice.
‘In light of a suspected situation of vulnerability linked to the crime of human trafficking, protection protocols were immediately activated, co-ordinating the teenager’s admission to a specialist shelter in Quito, in addition to inter-agency support channels to make sure her safety, integrity and well-being.’
Police were last night continuing to look into how the teen, whose age has not been revealed, entered Ecuador.
It is just not yet clear when she was reported missing.
Although Spanish is spoken in Imbabura, a big a part of the population also speak the Imbaburan Kichwa number of the Quechua language.
The stunning province, often called the ‘Province of the Lakes’, stands out for its impressive lagoons, majestic mountain landscapes and wealthy indigenous heritage reflected in its traditions and festivities.
The capital city is Ibarra, which sits on the foot of the Imbabura Volcano.
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