In a significant breakthrough, Ainoha Izaga Ibieta Lima, a Paraguayan woman found dead in Spain in 2018, has been identified nearly seven years later through Interpol’s Operation Identify Me campaign, which aims to solve cold cases involving unidentified women across Europe.
Operation Identify Me: Unsolved Cases Shine Light on Victims' Identities
Operation Identify Me: Unsolved Cases Shine Light on Victims' Identities
Interpol's initiative leads to the identification of a Paraguayan woman, shedding new light on the fates of identified victims across Europe.
In a remarkable identification effort, Ainoha Izaga Ibieta Lima, a 33-year-old woman from Paraguay, has been named after being found deceased in a poultry shed in Spain's Girona province in August 2018. Her identification, announced by Interpol, comes nearly seven years following her untimely death, marking her as the second identified victim as part of Operation Identify Me. This vital campaign is orchestrated by Interpol to identify numerous unidentified female bodies discovered throughout Europe.
Ainoha was discovered without any identification, leaving local residents and authorities in the dark regarding her identity. She bore a tattoo inscribed with the word "success" in Hebrew. The identification breakthrough occurred when Paraguayan officials matched her fingerprints with the data provided by Spanish police, a significant turning point in unpacking her identity and story.
Ainoha had traveled to Spain in 2013 and was reported missing by her brother to Paraguayan authorities in 2019 after her family lost contact with her. While she has now been identified, the details surrounding her death remain unclear, adding to the layer of tragedy associated with her case.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized the importance of identifying such victims, stating that each successful identification fuels hope for others who remain nameless. He highlighted the mission's dual purpose: solving crimes and restoring dignity and recognition to victims and their families.
The campaign initially identified Rita Roberts, a woman from Wales whose family recognized her from a tattoo seen in a BBC report about Operation Identify Me. As of now, the initiative seeks to identify another 45 deceased women found across various European nations, with most victims believed to involve murder.
Interpol acknowledges that rising global migration and human trafficking complicate the identification of many missing persons. The agency has provided details about these unresolved cases on its official platform, encouraging public assistance in solving these tragic mysteries while highlighting the significance of honoring the identities of the lost.
