Two minors, aged 14 and 16, endured a harrowing ordeal after being lured away from a care facility in La Safor, Valencia. They were taken to an area described by investigators as a run‑down home where they were drugged and sexually assaulted by several older youths and members of a broader trafficking network. The assault involved the use of psychotropic substances that impaired the victims, who were left unable to resist or clearly recall the events as they occurred. The consequences of this abuse weighed heavily on the victims during the ten days they remained missing after escaping from the center.
One of the minors reported that he was assaulted by between ten and fifteen individuals in the notorious area, though he could not identify most of them due to the effects of the drugs. Investigators noted that the memory of the attacks was fragmentary, complicating efforts to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify each perpetrator. The case highlighted the severe risk factors faced by vulnerable youths who can easily fall under the influence of criminal networks operating in sometimes hidden urban spaces.
During a press conference, a spokesperson from the Oliva Civil Guard Investigation Zone described the operation as a challenging and sprawling inquiry. The statement emphasized the difficulty of locating the victims and mapping the network responsible for the exploitation and abuse, revealing that initial leads were scarce and the situation required persistent, coordinated police work. This case was publicly labeled an operation focused on stopping sexual exploitation of minors and dismantling the groups responsible.
Authorities reported that four men of Moroccan origin faced charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors. Three of the suspects were arrested in connection with the investigation, while a fourth man, who was incarcerated for another reason, remained under scrutiny for possible involvement in the same crimes. The ongoing investigations sought to uncover the full scale of the criminal activity and secure convictions that would reflect the gravity of the offenses.
In a separate development, testimony from the mother of one of the victims led to cooperative efforts that aided the investigation. A person connected to a suspect was observed at Gandia railway station acting in a way that resembled an attempt to lure or observe potential targets, prompting authorities to intensify monitoring while preserving the minors’ safety and rights. The collaborative approach among families, police, and social services underscored the need for vigilance and rapid response in cases of suspected trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Following these collective efforts, early July saw the recovery of two girls who had disappeared from a reform facility on June 23. According to Civil Guard reports, the investigation evaluated potential injuries and signs of poisoning among the victims, which informed the subsequent investigative steps. Detectives emphasized that the absence of a solid evidentiary trail could not delay protective actions and the pursuit of justice for the young victims.
The investigation also noted that the perpetrators used the promise of shelter within La Safor to recruit minors. Those involved supplied the youths with psychotropic substances and coerced them into sexual activity with multiple men, many of whom shared the same nationality and frequently visited the home. The aim of such tactics was to control and exploit the minors while evading detection by authorities. The complexity of this network required careful, rights-respecting procedures to identify the individuals involved and safeguard the victims throughout the process.
As the case advanced, two suspects aged 50 and 37 were apprehended toward the end of October. A third suspect, aged 20, managed to flee to Murcia but was eventually located and arrested near the end of November. Most recently, a fourth suspect, who had been admitted to Picassent Prison for another matter, faced renewed scrutiny for ongoing sexual abuse of minors. The progression of these arrests reflected the persistent commitment of law enforcement to dismantling the trafficking operation and delivering accountability for the harmed youths. The authorities stressed the importance of continuing investigative work to uncover all participants and to ensure the safety and welfare of the affected minors, now receiving ongoing support and protection under the care framework established for victims of such crimes.