Loan Danilo Peña has been missing since Thursday, June 13, from Paraje Algarrobar in the town of 9 de Julio, Corrientes province. On that day, the 5-year-old boy was last seen at his grandmother Catalina’s house, where he had gone for lunch with his father, José Peña. The case has captured the attention of Argentina as investigators suspect a human trafficking network behind the incident, suggesting that the minor was kidnapped and sold.
Initially, it was reported that Loan had gone missing while searching for fruits with his uncle Antonio Benitez and other family friends in an orange grove near his grandmother’s house. The search for the boy concentrated on this area, but no evidence was found to indicate that Loan had been lost there. Inconsistencies in the accounts of the events further complicated the investigation, with adults and minors providing contradicting information about Loan’s last known whereabouts.
As the investigation progressed, suspicions arose about a municipal official, Victoria Caillava, and her husband, Carlos Pérez, being involved in the child’s disappearance. The couple, along with another suspect, were accused of participating in a human trafficking scheme that led to Loan’s abduction. Traces of the child’s scent were found in the couple’s vehicles, bolstering the allegations against them.
Prosecutors Castillo and Barry reclassified the case as a possible human trafficking incident and transferred it to national justice for further investigation. The involvement of several individuals, including the municipal official and her husband, raised concerns about the potential network responsible for Loan’s disappearance. Disturbing details emerged about the suspects’ actions following the boy’s disappearance, indicating a deliberate effort to obstruct the search for Loan.
Loan’s father, José Peña, expressed suspicion towards the individuals present at the lunch where his son went missing, suggesting that some may have received payment for facilitating the child’s abduction. The case took a heartbreaking turn as the search for Loan intensified, with authorities collaborating with international counterparts to locate the missing boy. Despite the efforts of investigators, the whereabouts of Loan remain unknown, leaving the community and authorities deeply concerned about his safety and well-being.