Spanish police have rescued 25 vulnerable women who were allegedly forced into prostitution by a human trafficking gang accused of luring them to Ibiza with fake job offers.
The young women, most of them from Venezuela, allegedly had their money and possessions taken after arriving in Spain. They were then told they owed the criminal group about €5,000 (£4,236), a debt they were forced to repay.
The victims, aged between 18 and 25, were allegedly coerced into prostitution and exploited in trafficking and money-laundering activities, according to the Civil Guard.
A police operation on Monday freed all 25 women from captivity, while officers arrested four people suspected of involvement in the gang.
Spanish police said yesterday: ‘The Civil Guard has freed 25 women, arrested four people, and dismantled a criminal organisation based on the island of Ibiza dedicated to human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
‘Those arrested are suspected of forced prostitution, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
‘The operation, dubbed ‘Gecaroni’, culminated on October 5th and was carried out by Judicial Police agents from the Crimes Against Persons Area of the Civil Guard of the Balearic Islands.
‘The criminal organisation targeted women aged between 18 and 25, mainly from Venezuela and vulnerable backgrounds, with fake hospitality and manicure jobs.
Spanish police arrested four people in Ibiza raids linked to the alleged human trafficking gang on October 5
Officers seized almost €120,000 (£102,000) in cash, believed to have come from illegal activities including sexual exploitation
‘The false offers were used to persuade the women to travel to Spain.
‘After they arrived, members of the network allegedly met them at the airport and confiscated some of their belongings and the cash they were carrying.
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‘They were then taken to properties connected to the organisation and told they had accumulated a debt of around €5,000, which they had to repay by providing sexual services.’
Investigators said the women were allegedly kept under strict control and required to remain available for sexual services.
The gang also allegedly exploited the women’s irregular immigration status to ‘instill fear and prevent them from seeking medical, police, or other support services’, the Civil Guard said.
During four raids across Ibiza, officers discovered surveillance and video-monitoring systems allegedly used to track the women’s movements.
Police also recovered nearly €120,000 (£102,000) in cash believed to be proceeds from sexual exploitation and drug activity, along with electronic devices and surveillance equipment.
The Civil Guard said the gang contacted clients through messaging apps and assigned the women to specific locations in Ibiza’s Platja d’en Bossa entertainment district.
A police dog and its handler search one of the four properties raided on Monday
Spanish Civil Guard officers are pictured during one of the raids
From there, they would be taken to clients’ homes.
Investigators also found that the organisation made money from selling customers ‘sexual enhancers’ as well as narcotics.
This money paid for some members of the gang to rent luxury homes and vehicles, allowing them to ‘maintain a high standard of living’, according to the Civil Guard.
Police also said they believe they have uncovered a ‘network and the possible use of companies linked to (the gang’s leader to launder the profits from illicit activities’.
