A major operation in Spain exposed a human trafficking network that victimized young women and forced them into sexual exploitation. The women were held in brutal, overcrowded conditions inside a basement beneath a Madrid chalet and coerced into prostitution by the criminal group. In the crackdown, twelve suspects were detained in Madrid and in the Palma area near the palm trees, signaling a coordinated effort to dismantle the operation.
A statement from the General Directorate of Security released on Friday described how the victims, 67% of whom reportedly suffer mental disabilities, endured constant surveillance and were compelled to endure at least eight hours of sexual violence every day in exchange for only a two-hour respite.
Eleven gang members were arrested in Madrid, with a single additional person detained in Las Palmas for involvement in human trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, prostitution, crimes against foreign citizens, pornography, and public health offenses.
Those involved were of South American origin and had family connections. They deceived the victims and recruited them in their home countries by exploiting vulnerability and promising stable, well-paying jobs abroad.
The network arranged every step and covered all costs for the victims to reach Spain. Upon arrival, the victims were informed they had entered into a loan with the organization, a debt that inflated the true journey cost.
The debt had to be repaid through prostitution, and the women were then transported to a Madrid chalet where they faced strict control and constant supervision.
The victims lived in a crowded, windowless basement under unsanitary conditions, unable to leave the premises and facing fines if they did not follow the imposed rules.
Additionally, the women were charged for accommodation and meals, paying up to 100 euros for lodging and between 16 and 20 euros for daily sustenance. As part of the abuse, they were forced to perform two sexual acts and oral sex without condom use with each client.
Criminal activity extended to cocaine trafficking within the chalet, and the victims were sometimes tasked with transporting the drugs during outings.
The operation included a photographic record of the women intended to promote their sexual services on websites that monetize such content.
The organization maintained a substantial infrastructure, including a property used as a brothel in Spain, and managed to collect funds through a payment platform totaling 1,244,767.49 euros.
During searches of two properties, one in Madrid and another in Fuentidueña de Tajo, authorities freed twelve women and seized 30,000 euros, 30 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of marijuana, and documentation related to the case. The investigation continues to reveal related activities linked to the network.
Cooperation in the operation came from organizations named Operation Underground Railroad and Amar Dragoste, which assisted in supporting the victims and sharing expertise throughout the process.