A Civil Guard operation led to the liberation of five women caught in a network of sexual exploitation, with the case beginning in Cáceres. The details of the operation, named Risaraldo, were shared at a press conference held at the Mérida headquarters in Cáceres.
Attending the briefing were high-ranking officials, including the government delegate for Extremadura, Francisco Mendoza, the deputy commander Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Roldán, the Extremadura Civil Guard commander Carlos Sarrión, and the captain of the judicial police, Marcelino Gil. Their participation underscored the seriousness of the case and the coordinated effort involved.
The investigation spanned a full year and led to the arrests of three individuals so far: one man and two women. The purported ringleader remained in custody, while all three face charges that include human trafficking, sexual exploitation, money laundering, and drug trafficking. The charges reflect a broad pattern of criminal activity beyond the exploitation of victims.
The initial complaint came from one of the victims from Colombia who sought refuge in Cáceres. The 18-year-old reported the abuse she endured to a non-governmental organization that collaborates with the police, prompting the first inquiries.
Throughout the investigation, the forensic brigade reviewed 650 advertisements on a sex-partner website based in Madrid, confirming the existence of a criminal group devoted to trafficking and sexual exploitation.
In November, authorities carried out three searches at the suspects’ Madrid residences, where multiple young women were found living in servile conditions. None of the victims exceeded 25 years of age. They were watched around the clock by cameras and subjected to inhumane living conditions. During the searches, drugs and cash were discovered, and about 50 agents from the Central Operating Unit participated in these operations.
Five women were freed during these interventions. Additionally, documents related to 28 potential victims of the same trafficking network were recovered by the Civil Guard.
Officials explained to the media that the offenders used fake employment contracts from victims’ home countries, including Colombia and Venezuela, to lure young women. The traffickers exploited family vulnerabilities, transported the victims to Spain, confiscated their passports, and subjected them to sexual slavery. They employed threats and harm to family members back home to maintain control.
An operation that disguised money flows
Investigators found that a hotel-related business functioned as a front to launder money earned from the exploitation. Data devices were used to track activity on each floor, with profits routed through real estate channels to legitimize the funds. After money moved through these channels, transfers were sent to accounts in Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina.
The Civil Guard continues the inquiry, and additional arrests remain a possibility as the case unfolds. The investigation remains active, with efforts focused on identifying all potential victims and dismantling remaining operational nodes of the network.
The operation highlights the ongoing threat of human trafficking and the methods used to recruit and control victims. The authorities urge anyone with information to come forward to help protect more potential victims and disrupt similar criminal enterprises in the region. [Attribution: Civil Guard press conference]