Spain smashes sex trafficking gang that exploited over 1,000 women
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MADRID – The Spanish police have smashed a human trafficking ring that lured more than 1,000 women to the country over the past year with false job offers before forcing them into sex work, the police said on Feb 23.
The women – who were mainly from Venezuela and Colombia – were told they would be working in the beauty or cleaning sectors, Spain’s National Police said in a statement.
“On arrival in Spain, they were transferred to clubs where they were sexually exploited and forced to work all hours,” the police said.
The women were allowed out for only two hours per day and were kept under video surveillance.
Three alleged ring leaders – two Colombian women and a Spaniard – were among 48 suspects arrested in raids in Alicante and Murcia, in south-eastern Spain, and three strip clubs were closed as part of the operation.
The police also seized more than €150,000 (S$210,000) in cash, blocked bank accounts containing €938,000 and seized 17 properties.
Six of the suspects were held in pre-trial detention, the police said. The others were released on bail to face trial at a later date. REUTERS
