A Story of Hope: Missing Argentine Girl Found in Venezuela

For nearly three years, the family of a little girl from the city of Santa Fe (a major city in central-eastern Argentina) lived in anguish. Now, a ray of hope: M.G.S.A., a 5-year-old Argentine girl, has been located in the state of Barinas, Venezuela, along with her mother. Authorities are working tirelessly to bring her back to Argentina.

The Discovery After Years of Searching

The child, who had been missing since August 2023, was found thanks to a coordinated effort between the Santa Fe Federal Prosecutor's Office, Interpol, and Venezuelan authorities. The breakthrough came when an anonymous tip provided precise information about the possible whereabouts of the mother and daughter.

This alert allowed Interpol to connect the National Central Bureaus of Buenos Aires and Caracas, leading to the verification of an address in the city of Barinas. The Seventh Prosecutor's Office of the Venezuelan Public Ministry, specialized in the protection of children and adolescents, along with the local Protection Council, intervened on the ground.

How the Investigation Began

The ordeal started on August 25, 2023, when the girl's father filed a missing person report at the 1st Police Station in Santa Fe. According to the prosecutor's hypothesis, the mother, identified by the initials F.A.S., allegedly took the child out of the country without paternal authorization, cutting off all contact with the father at least since August 23 of that year.

After passing through provincial courts, the case was transferred to the federal jurisdiction in September 2024, under the direction of co-adjuvant prosecutors Natalia Palacín and Juan Claudio Aguirre. The investigation also involved a complex analysis of IP addresses that tracked digital access across several Latin American countries, helping to narrow down the search.

Next Steps Toward Reunion

The girl is reportedly in a vulnerable situation, prompting the prosecutor's office to accelerate legal steps. The crime under investigation — abduction, retention, and concealment of a minor (Article 146 of the Argentine Penal Code) — carries a penalty of 5 to 15 years in prison.

While the criminal case moves forward, the Argentine Foreign Ministry, through its Coordination of Legal Cooperation in Civil Matters, is working on the international restitution procedure requested by the father. The main goal is to ensure a safe and swift return of the little girl to Argentine soil.