A Guardia Civil Operation Intervenes to Protect a Minor from Forced Marriage in Spain
Spanish authorities arrested the mother and her partner in connection with plans to compel a 12-year-old girl from Malagón, Ciudad Real, to marry in Granada in exchange for 3,000 euros. The charges allege coercion and exploitation of a minor in a case that has drawn nationwide concern. The operation was disclosed by the Guardia Civil in an official statement issued on a recent Monday.
The investigation began late January after officers learned of vulnerable minors in Malagón who appeared to be at risk of abandonment. This initial information prompted a broader inquiry into the family’s circumstances and the girl’s welfare, with police focusing on the safety and future protection of the child involved.
Information from the social circle indicated that one of the minors faced habitual physical abuse at home and did not want to remain in the residence. Investigators then reviewed the girl’s school attendance and everyday life, noting that she had not attended classes for some time and that the mother and stepfather had asked for the minor’s enrollment status to be changed or the child to be removed from the local school roster, under the pretense that the girl had left the town.
As the inquiries progressed, authorities learned that the girl had told friends that her parents planned to marry her for a sum of 3,000 euros. This information led to the arrest of both parents on suspicion of a crime against personal freedom. During the arrest, a pocketed amount of 3,800 euros was found on the stepfather, who claimed the cash came from an olive harvest campaign. Investigators later established that this explanation did not hold up under examination.
Authorities also received information that the young girl could be located at a home in Baza, Granada. A rapid response team traveled to that area and located the minor there. Following her recovery, officials coordinated with the Granada Social Welfare services to assess the risk of abandonment and to arrange ongoing protection. The girl is currently under the guardianship of the regional government in Andalusia.
The operation was carried out by the Organised Unit of Judicial Police in Ciudad Real, reflecting a coordinated effort to safeguard a child and to pursue potential exploitation cases through the proper legal channels. The case continues to be monitored by regional social services and law enforcement authorities to ensure protective measures remain in place for the minor and to pursue any additional legal actions necessary.