Two siblings, a man and a woman, were arrested by a national police force for allegedly sexually exploiting a woman who was lured to Spain from Romania to fuel a manipulated romantic relationship that started on social media. The pair is accused of using the so-called “dear boy” tactic to gain the victim’s trust by presenting a genuine emotional connection before coercing her into prostitution.
The investigation began early last year after the victim, who later managed to escape violence and signs of trafficking for sexual exploitation, filed a complaint. Police say the inquiry focused on how the suspects used online contact to entice the Romanian national, whose financial situation was fragile, into traveling to Spain with the promise of work and companionship.
Officers reported that the male suspect and the female accomplice, his sister, allegedly kept the victim under strict control and threatened to publish intimate photos with her family if she resisted. The coercive environment left her feeling trapped and powerless, illustrating the manipulation tactics used by traffickers to dominate their victims.
The victim seized a moment when her abusers were away to make a safer escape and seek help. After a detailed operation, police arrested the implicated woman first, with the male suspect later located at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. Both suspects were subsequently taken into custody and are now facing charges related to human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The detainees were brought before the court to respond to the accusations surrounding trafficking for sexual exploitation and the coercive tactics used to control the victim. The case highlights ongoing concerns about trafficking networks that target vulnerable migrants and exploit their economic hardships through deceit and threats.