This National Police arrested two men, aged 38 and 41, on charges of trafficking in persons for the purpose of labor exploitation and for crimes against workers’ rights. The case follows an investigation that spanned multiple communities in Spain.
Three of the six victims lived in a trailer without electricity, water, or a proper bathroom. According to the police report, the workers were kept on the farm where they labored. If injuries occurred, they were not allowed to leave the premises to seek medical care. One of the suspects admitted that movement was restricted because the workers were under constant surveillance through cameras monitoring the farm’s operations.
The probe began in Badajoz earlier in the year after authorities learned of a company that kept workers in poor conditions and exploited those lacking housing or work permits.
The victims, both men and women aged 20 to 54, faced severe financial hardship and lacked strong family support. Many sent remittances back to their countries of origin, making survival depend on labor supplied under coercive conditions.
Authorities were told that the first contact between one worker and the employer occurred online, implying initial adherence to agreed working terms. At no point were workers registered with Social Security, offered formal contracts, provided adequate training, or given the necessary personal protective equipment.
The payroll situation was described as a serious breach of workers rights within the applicable sector contract.
Conditions quickly deteriorated as pay fell below agreed levels and several days of work were demanded without compensation. In many cases workers labored without adequate tools or equipment to perform tasks safely, a situation police described as especially dangerous because it required handling hazardous tools and materials.
The investigation unfolded over several months and involved coordinated work across multiple regions of Spain. It led to the discovery of additional victims in La Rioja and Navarra. The findings were reported to the regional delegation of the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate, the Regional Immigration Prosecutor’s Office, and the Estella No. 1 Court of First Instance and Order.
Prosecutors sought a measure to bar entry and registration for others potentially living in similar conditions.
Inspections revealed a disturbing lack of official documents, work orders, pay slips, or employment records supporting any work activities, which greatly hindered the police investigation.
In a joint operation involving the police teams from Badajoz, La Rioja, and Navarra Immigration and Border Brigades, two additional suspects were arrested and are awaiting trial.