The Spanish National Police dismantle a criminal organization dedicated to trafficking women for sexual exploitation

National Police officers have dismantled a criminal organization based in the provinces of León and Zamora allegedly involved in the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation. The victims, of Latin American origin, were recruited to work in Spain through messaging apps and social media, and incurred a debt of 6,000 euros with the network, which they had to pay off by working as prostitutes in brothels located in León, Zamora, Asturias, Navarra, and La Rioja. Four victims have been released, and five people have been arrested in Madrid (3), León (1), and Zamora (1).

The investigation began thanks to complaints filed with the National Police by several women who claimed to be victims of a criminal network that sexually exploited them in various brothels. Following these complaints, and after numerous investigations, officers confirmed the presence of this organization in the provinces of León and Zamora. The exploiters recruited their victims—women of South American origin—taking advantage of their social and economic vulnerability to transport them to our country for sexual exploitation in brothels across the country.

Through deception and manipulation, and through instant messaging and social media applications, the organization established a bond with the women, gradually gaining their trust until they were able to convince them to accept the offer.

Debt of 6,000 euros

Once the offer was accepted, the organization’s members provided the victims with plane tickets to Spain, hotel reservations, travel insurance, and return flights to simulate their status as tourists in our country. They also instructed them on how to behave at the border if they were intercepted by Spanish agents. All of this generated a large debt for the women, which could amount to 6,000 euros, which they had to pay off by performing sexual services for the organization.

Death threats

The criminal network exerted strict control over the women and subjected them to serious threats if they failed to pay their debts. During the investigation, officers learned of a victim who had been threatened with hiring a hitman to kill her and her family if she did not agree to pay the agreed-upon amounts.

The seriousness of these events precipitated the outcome of the police investigation, with the search of four homes in the provinces of Zamora and León, and the arrest of five people, two of them in the vicinity of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport as they attempted to flee Spain. The detainees are charged with human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, prostitution, and facilitating illegal immigration. The searches resulted in the seizure of €49,112 in cash, nine mobile phones, and extensive accounting documentation confirming the sexual exploitation business run by the detainees.