A 73-year-old man born in Eastern Europe, nearly blind and with serious health issues, was enslaved and treated like rubble in Barcelona’s Sants district this year. He comforted himself on the street and faced beatings if he refused to beg. The police are reluctant to reveal his name because the individuals who abused him are still at large. They described the mistreatment as seeing him as property rather than a person. A Mossos d’Esquadra officer and the head of the Human Smuggling Group coordinated with the City Guard to arrest the two exploiters. Investigators who have worked this case for six months shared with EL PERIÓDICO what life looked like for the so-called slave of Plaza Cerdà.
Each morning at seven, the old man stood in Plaza de Cerdà. Sometimes he was moved to Tarragona Street near Plaza de España. A hat and a cane were placed on his head, and he was pushed to beg among cars at traffic lights, making him vulnerable to harm. He had to improvise to survive, and neighbors reported the situation to police last November. Surveillance began to prove the man was being held as a slave.
He had to collect about 100 euros daily from waiting drivers, money that rarely materialized until nightfall. The man sometimes received a slice of bread, while neighbors helped when possible. A younger man, around 45, carried out the same task but was kept vaguely by the same exploiters. The difference lay in the control and the wealth the aggressors aimed to accumulate.
alcohol as an anesthetic
At night, two abusers forced him into a car and drove him to an empty lot near Plaza de Magòria. There they offered him beer and then seized the coins he had earned. If he resisted, he faced more violence. The use of his drinking problem was a key method of control, and it helped the older man decline benefits on two occasions.
The humiliation persisted into the night. The exploiters and their relatives lived in a tent on the open field, but the victim was left on a bare mattress, exposed to rain and cold. He endured days when he was drenched and shivering, with hygiene neglected. Each dawn brought the same routine: trunk, traffic lights, and another day of cold, hunger, and coercion. The operation spanned about 217 days under the watch of the Mossos and the Guardia Urbana.
view trips
Sometimes the old man vanished for short periods. On one occasion he was moved to Romania to show relatives that life was continuing, according to a Mossos commander who led the case. The suspects were arrested on June 7, but those detained were released because they had no prior criminal records. They faced similar charges tied to exploitation in their home country, which they later withdrew.
Investigators believe the exploiters amassed a substantial amount of money, well over 20,000 euros. They were found with 2,600 euros in cash during the arrest. The prosecutors speculate that the money was reinvested abroad to buy property or vehicles. The two men had traveled to Barcelona with the help of a family network that exploited others, a pattern often seen in slave-like trafficking. They traveled by bus to avoid certain checks rather than flying.
regain the vision
The old man now resides in a sheltered apartment. He arrived in a severely distressed state, with poor personal care and hygiene. Since then, he has managed to clean himself, shave, and regain a measure of dignity. Cataract surgery is anticipated to restore his sight. The social services team that responded quickly helped connect him to essential resources. Initially, he was at the Center for Emergencies and Social Emergencies in Barcelona, where the situation was addressed, though his abductors initially appeared elusive to authorities.
The elderly survivor has a few days to decide whether to cooperate with the police. His testimony could prove crucial, and the police acknowledge the importance of his cooperation. A recent update confirms that the captors received a lengthy prison sentence of sixteen years, a result that aligns with the community’s push for strong penalties. Similar investigations continue in Barcelona, reflecting ongoing efforts by anti-trafficking units to protect vulnerable individuals.