Eight individuals were arrested and twenty-four women were freed as part of the dismantling of a criminal network involved in sex trafficking and drug distribution across multiple municipalities in Mallorca. The operation targeted a group believed to specialize in sexual exploitation and the trafficking of vulnerable women, with alleged ties to Brazilian-origin organizers. The National Police confirmed the arrests and releases in a statement issued on Tuesday, highlighting the broader fight against human trafficking and organized crime in the region, including areas where prostitution networks prey on foreign-born women.
Many of the victims appeared to be women of Latin American origin who were coerced into prostitution around the clock, every day of the week. They lived in cramped, unsanitary rooms and endured harsh conditions as part of the exploitation system described by the police in their ongoing investigation and enforcement actions this week, underscoring the severity of the trafficking operation and its impact on victims and communities.
Investigators began the case after a victim filed a complaint that opened a broader inquiry into human trafficking networks. The National Police, after extensive inquiries, identified a possible criminal organization of Brazilian origin that allegedly used dating apartments to sexually exploit vulnerable women across different parts of the island, including Inca, Alcúdia, and Muro.
Authorities were able to show that the organization recruited victims through online advertisements and targeted women in precarious situations, whether living in Spain or abroad. The operation exposed a pattern of recruitment that relied on deception and coercion, with women lured by promises of opportunity and safety but drawn into a cycle of abuse and control, as detailed by law enforcement sources this week.
The police described four circles of activity in the towns of Inca, Alcúdia, and Muro where the women were forced to work under severe conditions. The victims faced relentless workloads, with the only possible day of rest each week, while the profits were distributed in a manner that favored the exploiters, with the women receiving only a portion of the earnings from sexual services.
The investigation revealed that many women were coerced into signing a supposed sublease contract for rooms priced at 250 euros per week. In reality, the arrangement often meant a bed in a crowded, unsanitary room shared with other women, a detail highlighted by police investigators who described the living conditions as part of the coercive framework used by the network.
Online platforms and classified sites were used by the network to advertise the sexual services offered by the victims. Prospective clients reached out to the abusers, who controlled the communications and arranged bookings for sexual encounters, keeping the victims under tight control and surveillance as part of the exploitation strategy, according to the authorities.
Beyond prostitution, the operation indicated that the network also trafficked narcotics, primarily cocaine, to customers who demanded these illegal substances. This dual criminal activity amplified the risk to victims and the broader community, as explained by police statements accompanying the operation and subsequent investigations.
In the course of the searches, authorities seized approximately 35,800 euros in cash, two vehicles, eight grams of cocaine, four grams of pink cocaine, five mobile phones, and documents connected to the illicit activity. The seizure of these items was part of a broader effort to dismantle the network and disrupt its financial and logistical capabilities, as reported by the National Police during the operation.
Two non-governmental organizations, Operation Underground Railroad and Amar Dragoste, cooperated with law enforcement during the operation, offering support and sharing information that aided the investigation and the protection of potential witnesses. This collaboration reflected the cross-border and multidisciplinary nature of the fight against trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation, highlighted by authorities involved in the case.
This operation falls under the National Police Plan Against Trafficking in Persons for Sexual Exploitation, which outlines several anonymous reporting channels and community resources designed to encourage tips and reduce the stigma surrounding victims. The plan emphasizes ongoing vigilance, prevention, and enforcement to break the cycle of trafficking and exploitation and to safeguard vulnerable populations across Spain and beyond where such crimes occur.