Eighteen Columbian gang members have been arrested in Spain for their involvement in human trafficking and pimping operations. The case involved the organized crime members imprisoning women, who were forced to work in shifts as prostitutes available to clients 24 hours a day.
The group, which was operated in Almendralejo and Arrecife, Spain, has already seen six of its members imprisoned, with the rest set to stand trial. They promised the women work and then entrapped them with debts up to €3,400 and withholding their ID until the debts were cleared.
In a coordinated effort involving the National Police, the Civil Guard, and the Colombian National Police, supported by INTERPOL, the gang was broken up. Eighteen victims, primarily Colombian, were freed after being recruited in Colombia with promises of a better life in Spain. Instead, they were forced into prostitution, according to a press release from Spain’s interior ministry.
Victims were required to be available for clients around the clock, with severe financial penalties for any downtime, and were coerced into selling additional services like drinks and drugs, all under the watchful eye of security cameras.
The police executed six raids, three in each location, seizing over €30,000, cocaine, erectile dysfunction pills, mobile phones, and significant documentation. This operation not only freed 18 victims but also led to the arrest of 18 individuals, charged with various crimes including human trafficking for sexual purposes, forced prostitution, drug trafficking, and more.
The investigation began following a statement from one of the victims, revealing the existence of this family-based criminal network operating from Badajoz province and Lanzarote island, specifically targeting vulnerable women in Colombia..
The recruitment process involved targeting individuals in poverty-stricken conditions in Colombia, offering them a chance for a better life. The organization financed their travel, including flights, passports, and even provided some money for expenses, but in return, these women were saddled with debts and their documents were seized. Upon arrival in Spain, victims were either taken to a club in Lanzarote or directly to Almendralejo where the group had established a clubhouse for prostitution. The women were frequently moved between different locations in Badajoz and Lanzarote.
The operation was supported by the NGO “OUR RESCUE,” which fights human trafficking and child exploitation, highlighting the collaborative efforts to combat such transnational criminal activities.