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The United States has announced new sanctions against the executives of multiple maritime companies allegedly linked to smuggling migrants through a dangerous jungle passage used by many migrants coming from South America. 

During a conference call with reporters, senior US officials announced visa sanctions on executives from seven Colombian maritime companies. According to a senior US official, the targeted ferry operators are reportedly involved in “ruthlessly smuggling” migrants across the border. The executives are accused of facilitating the movement of migrants from Colombia to Panama through the Darien Gap.

Darien Gap Migrant Route Mom With Child In Jungle

The Darien Gap, a dense jungle that migrants must transit through to reach Panama from Colombia, saw 500,000+ people pass through in 2023 alone. The jungle, filled with armed gangs, venomous snakes, and strong river currents, often kills many of those attempting to traverse through it. 

Despite agreements between the US, Colombia, and Panama to curb crossings in the Darien, the number remains high, with 37,000 migrants recorded in March of this year alone. Many of these migrants embark on their dangerous journey from the Colombian town of Necocli, often using ferries to reach the jungle’s edge.

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