Colombian Woman Sentenced for Smuggling Over 100 People

In a Phoenix courtroom last week, Greiby Melissa Barcelo-Velasquez faced the consequences of her actions. The 39-year-old Colombian was sentenced to 30 months in prison on March 25, 2025, for orchestrating the illegal entry of over 100 of her compatriots into the United States. Her case, uncovered by a joint effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, lays bare the human cost of a sprawling smuggling network that thrives on desperation.

The investigation, launched in late 2023, pinpointed Barcelo-Velasquez as a key figure after numerous Colombian nationals named her as their coordinator. Operating through her travel agency, Baul Travel SAS, she allegedly lured clients with promises of a Mexican vacation, only to funnel them into a dangerous journey across the U.S. border. It’s a stark reminder of how ordinary businesses can mask extraordinary crimes, pulling vulnerable people into a web of exploitation.

Barcelo-Velasquez’s operation was chillingly efficient. Court documents reveal she charged fees for travel to Mexico, then demanded additional bribes in U.S. dollars at Mexican airports. From there, her clients were shuttled to stash houses near the border, grim holding pens where armed gunmen took over. These men guided the migrants across the unforgiving desert into the United States, a trek that often ends in tragedy rather than triumph.

This setup mirrors a broader trend. Transnational criminal networks, from cartels in Mexico to rogue operators in Colombia, run smuggling like a business. Recruiters, forgers, and transporters each play a part, adapting routes and methods to dodge tightening border controls. Research from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime highlights how these groups exploit weak oversight, particularly in countries where travel agencies face little scrutiny, turning a blind eye to the human toll.

The case falls under the umbrella of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), a U.S. initiative launched in 2021 to dismantle smuggling networks across Central and South America. Since its inception, JTFA has notched over 355 arrests and 320 convictions, targeting leaders and facilitators who profit from human misery. Barcelo-Velasquez’s sentencing joins a tally of over 265 significant jail terms, a signal of the task force’s growing reach.

Yet the fight is far from one-sided. Advocates for migrant rights argue that while JTFA disrupts criminal networks, it does little to address the root causes driving people to risk their lives. Poverty, violence, and instability in countries like Colombia fuel the demand for smuggling services. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials, including ICE’s Francisco B. Burrola, stress the need to hold accountable those who prioritize profit over safety, a stance underscored by the millions in seized assets tied to these operations.

Human smuggling isn’t new, nor is it confined to the U.S.-Mexico border. Historically, routes have shifted with the times, from sea crossings in the Mediterranean to desert paths through the Sahara. Today, technology amplifies the trade, with smugglers using encrypted apps to coordinate moves and dodge detection. The methods vary, but the stakes remain constant: migrants face debt bondage, abuse, or worse, all for a shot at a better life.

Sentencing reflects this complexity. In the U.S., federal cases like Barcelo-Velasquez’s average 15 months, though states like Texas impose harsher terms, up to 10 years for some offenses. Critics of tough penalties point to overwhelmed courts and the punishment of low-level players, while supporters argue that strong deterrents are essential to break the cycle. The debate reveals a tension between justice and the broader forces at play.

Barcelo-Velasquez’s 30-month sentence closes one chapter but leaves the story unfinished. Her case exposes the intricate dance between legitimate fronts, like travel agencies, and the shadowy networks they serve. It also highlights JTFA’s role in chipping away at a trade that spans continents, even as the numbers—over 100 smuggled in this instance alone—hint at the scale of the challenge.

What lingers is the human element. For every organizer caught, countless others step into the void, driven by profit and enabled by despair. The border remains a battleground, not just of law and order, but of hope and survival. As enforcement ramps up, the question hangs heavy: will disrupting supply ever stem the demand, or are we merely treating symptoms of a deeper wound?