Authorities in Málaga have rescued 29 women who were exploited sexually by a criminal network that controlled them through strict rules in brothels.
In the operation named Vagary, 37 people were detained on charges including human trafficking for sexual exploitation, involvement in prostitution, tax and social security violations, public health offenses, document falsification, and membership in a criminal organization, according to a police statement.
Investigators say the scheme forced the victims to prostitute themselves under abusive conditions, enforcing a harsh monetary penalty regime for alleged breaches of internal club rules, and coercing them to sell drugs to clients.
The police conducted seven raids on brothels and the homes of the main suspects in the Málaga region, specifically in Alhaurín de la Torre, Alhaurín el Grande, Coín, Pizarra, and Málaga city. Authorities seized 261,670 euros in cash, 30 grams of MDMA, 15 grams of cocaine, 114 doses of sexual stimulants, five high-end vehicles, and a cryptocurrency wallet valued around 100,000 euros. Bank accounts and properties totaling about 2.5 million euros were blocked as part of the investigation.
The inquiry, led by officers from the specialized unit in Málaga, began after information suggested an organized group recruited women from various countries, who were in vulnerable situations, to exploit them economically and sexually in brothels within the Guadalhorce valley region.
According to the proceedings, the victims, who resided in the brothels, faced severe sexual exploitation and were kept under a rigid discipline, facing financial penalties for alleged breaches of internal club rules, often tied to schedule violations or appointments with clients.
Moreover, victims were rotated between different clubs within the organization to avoid building trust between the workers and regular clients.
Social Security Fraud
The organization reportedly used a complex corporate network to defraud public funds, failing to pay workers’ social security contributions in some cases or creating fictitious hires in others.
Investigators estimate that the involved companies accumulated around one million euros in social security debt. The operation culminated in the detention of 37 individuals, ranging from accounting and management personnel for the brothels to a broad network of collaborators and associates.
This operation falls under the National Police Plan against Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation. Citizens are encouraged to report tips or concerns through official channels, with assurances of anonymity and confidentiality, and no record is left on phone bills.
Authorities emphasize the importance of public cooperation in identifying and dismantling such networks, and remind the public that support services and hotlines exist to assist victims and witnesses in reporting crimes of this nature. Citations for this report are attributed to official police communications and investigative records.