The National Police has arrested three alleged members of a criminal organization, based in several Spanish provinces and with branches in Switzerland, that sexually exploited women in hostess clubs and private homes. Two of the members have been arrested in Getafe, Madrid, and the third participant in Torrepacheco, Murcia.
As reported by the National Police this Monday in a press release, the group was established in the provinces of Toledo, Madrid, Murcia, Cáceres and Jaén, and with branches in Switzerland. Likewise, the investigation began following a complaint from one of the victims.
This criminal group was dedicated to recruiting South American women, especially Colombian women, who were in situations of “extreme vulnerability” through social networks and people they trusted. The victims traveled to Spain under the assumption that they could improve their living conditions.
However, once here, they were transported to different clubs in the national territory to practice prostitution, to pay off the debt incurred for the travel expenses. “To that debt, in addition, were added other payments that the women had to make to the exploiters. 50 euros a day for maintenance and 300 euros a month for accommodation,” added the Police.
Although they were normally held in Spain and transported to different brothels in the national territory, some were also exploited in Switzerland, a country where one of those arrested had connections. This could be verified, since the investigations showed that the detainees, who have no evidence of any paid work activity, had made several money transfers abroad in recent months worth 66,500 euros.
This police operation was born as a result of a complaint from one of the victims. During her stay in one of the national clubs, the woman witnessed how two minors had been held against her will to practice prostitution with “special clients,” according to the Police.
As a result of witnessing this event, the victim was sexually assaulted on two occasions and threatened with death, which is why she had to flee the country.
