In El Campello, a substantial police operation led to the detention of three individuals and the identification of five affiliated workplaces amid investigations into worker safety infringements and improper contracts within the hospitality sector. The intervention, which took place last Thursday, involved police units from multiple administrations focusing on several dining establishments across the municipality. Authorities allege that one detainee is connected to a crime against workers’ rights, another to identity deception, and a third to irregular stay in Spain, alongside broader concerns about labor violations within local businesses.
The operation originated from a complaint about working conditions raised by an individual in the hospitality sector. The matter, initially reported to the El Campello Local Police, was escalated due to its sensitive nature and channeled through channels that liaise with foreign workers during the period in question. The National Police Service and the relevant Labor Inspection authorities were promptly informed, as stated by the El Campello City Council on the following Monday, which confirmed the proper handling of the case. It was reported that some workers were operating without formal contracts, with indications of a scenario that resembled modern forms of forced labor described by sources close to the investigation.
During the operation, footage captured moments from the scene, illustrating the scale of the activity. One of the recordings shows officers at a dining venue in the midst of the operation.
All of the evidence gathered was collected across a number of cafeterias in coordination with municipal authorities. The regional police, the Labor Inspectorate under the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, the UCRIF3 Group of the Central Commissioner of Alicante, and autonomous police units collaborated closely, with the assistance of translators to facilitate communication with workers who did not speak the local language.
police deployment
Following the planning phase, an external audit was conducted to ensure working conditions and safety standards were adequate. After this initial review, five organizations were examined in parallel to verify documentation and the employment status of the workers.
Footage from the operation also shows police vehicles in the vicinity as teams moved between locations.
The results of these checks included the arrest of three individuals on multiple charges. The offenses included serious immigration violations and serious offenses against labor organization, as well as a range of minor and more serious crimes requiring subsequent verification by the Labor Inspectorate. Authorities indicate that two of the arrestees were linked to irregular employment practices, with one suspect accused of deceiving workers and manipulating an informal marital status to extend access to work benefits.
According to National Police sources, twenty-two workers were identified as irregular or at risk within a single group of five buildings, and the detainee’s irregular status was confirmed in the country.
The operation proceeded without incident and did not disrupt the daily activities of the accommodation facilities involved, concluding around 4 pm after roughly three hours of activity, as reported by the Campello municipal authorities.