Authorities arrested eighteen Colombian men in Spain for forcing young Colombian women into sexual slavery.

In a historic step in the fight against human trafficking, Spanish authorities have detained eighteen Colombian criminals who were operating an extensive network involved in human trafficking and prostitution. The organised criminal group coerced women into providing sexual services around the clock.

Son liberadas 18 víctimas de explotación sexual en #Lanzarote y Badajoz
Seis de los once detenidos han ingresado en prisión
El entramado colombiano operaba en Arrecife y Almendralejo#seguridadhttps://t.co/fYBkoUaZS9 pic.twitter.com/f68hF3Dl1G

— www.elchaplon.com (@chaplon_com) November 7, 2024

The gang operated in Almendralejo and Arrecife, with six members already imprisoned while the others await trial. The victims were lured with the promise of job opportunities and a better life, only to be trapped in debt, which could reach as high as €3,400. The perpetrators confiscated the women’s identification documents, refusing to return them until the debt was paid off. In addition to forcing the women into prostitution, the group also compelled them to sell drugs.

Authorities have managed to identify and dismantle the gang through coordinated efforts involving Spanish police, the civil guard, and Colombia’s national police, with additional support from Interpol. During the operation, officers successfully rescued eighteen victims, most of whom were Colombian women. The civil organisation called Our Rescue, which fights against human trafficking and child exploitation, also provided assistance for the operation, highlighting the importance of unified efforts against transnational crime.

In the course of the police operation, law enforcement agencies conducted six raids across three different locations, and officers seized over 30,000 euros, a substantial amount of cocaine, erectile dysfunction tablets, mobile phones, and numerous documents. The charges brought against the gang members include human trafficking, forced prostitution, and drug trafficking.