A police operation has managed to free 21 women, the majority of Latin American origin, who They were sexually exploited in apartments in various provinces of Spain, among them, in Ourense and in lugo. In total there are nine detainees, six of them in Galicia —five in Ourense and one in To Coruña—.
The victims were captured in their countries of origin and transferred to Spain, where they were forced into prostitution. to settle the debt of 7,000 euros contracted with their exploiterswho went so far as to sell some of these women to other criminal networks for amounts close to 1,000 euros.
The apartments functioned as brothels
This has been reported by the National Police, in charge of an investigation that has had the collaboration of Europol and that has been carried out in various parts of Spain with home searches in the provinces of Ourense, Lugo, Burgos, Cuenca and Seville. Six of the arrests occurred in Galicia: five in Ourense and one in A Coruña, in addition to another three in the provinces of Burgos, Cuenca and Madrid.
The investigation began following information that warned of the arrival in Spain of an alleged victim of human trafficking that she had been captured in her hometown by an organization dedicated to the sexual exploitation of women.
From this, the police investigations managed locate the victim and confirm the existence of this networkwhich operated in several provinces where women were exploited in apartments that functioned as brothels.
They appeared to be tourists to the authorities
The victims were in a situation of great vulnerability, which their exploiters took advantage of, who provided them with hotel reservations in Madrid, medical insurance and a return flight. to appear before the authorities as if they were tourists in Spain.
In addition, they received instructions on how to behave at the border so as not to raise suspicions. Thence, They were transferred to the apartments controlled by this criminal groupspread throughout several provinces and through which women moved, being sexually exploited throughout the day in exchange for 50% of the price paid by clients.
In addition, the National Police has determined that the network sold women to other networks dedicated to sexual exploitation. for prices that ranged from 1,000 euros. The nine arrested in the operation face crimes of human trafficking, coercive prostitution, membership in a criminal group and favoring illegal immigration.
In the home searches carried out in Ourense, Lugo, Burgos, Cuenca and Seville Eight mobile phones have been seized, 2,895 euros in cash and various documentation relevant to the investigation.
