19 victims of sexual exploitation are released in the Region of Murcia in a police operation with 22 detainees

Agents of the National Police carried out one of the largest police operations against human trafficking in the Region of Murcia. The operation has culminated in the release of 19 women, victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation, and the arrest of 22 people as alleged perpetrators of crimes related to human trafficking, prostitution, drug trafficking, crime against workers’ rights , money laundering and belonging to a criminal organization.

UCRIF received an anonymous complaint from a victim exploited by the organization who was practicing prostitution in an apartment from which he wanted to escape. They would have paid for the girl’s trip from her country, contracting a debt that she had to pay by practicing prostitution, and that she never stopped growing.

In the first steps of the investigation, the agents of the National Police verified that the apartment-brothel was run by a woman of Brazilian origin, and that currently she could be running two more floors in which numerous foreign women practice prostitution, one in Alcantarilla and another in Murcia.

Throughout the investigation, four other women have been located who had escaped from the brothel that was the subject of the complaint, giving statements and also stating that they had been brought from their country under deceitful conditions by the same woman, with the help of other people who were aware of the intentions of the same, forming an authentic human trafficking network.

Later, these women had to work in their brothel until they paid off their travel debts. The owner ensured that payment, creating an intimidating environment towards women, even to the retention of their passport.

A perfectly structured organization

The researchers have unraveled the dynamics and functioning of this criminal organization, whose main activity is the trafficking of women from various Latin American countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and Panama). To do this, they use collaborators both here and in the countries of origin who participate in the recruitment and preparation of the girls’ trip, these being financed by the head of the organization and owner of the brothels. Once here, the girls are received at the airport by people who would carry out ‘taxi’ work, being transferred directly to the brothel in Alcantarilla or Murcia, where they are housed and are left in charge of another series of women who are in charge of having them. controlled at all times, colloquially known in prostitution jargon as ‘mommies’.

Within the brothels there was a regular and constant sale of drugs, mainly cocaine, with the main investigated being in charge of preparing the doses and taking them or arranging for them to be delivered to the ‘mamis’ at their request when they needed provisions, since they were the ones who were in charge of the sale between the clients of the brothel; other people also went there with the sole purpose of acquiring these substances, therefore said brothel also functioned as a habitual point of sale for drug trafficking.

During the investigation, the National Police in charge of the investigation have located 19 women who have been sexually exploited in the investigated brothels, who have been offered the possibility of being interviewed and receiving the assistance of the NGO Apramp (Association for the Prevention, Reintegration and Care for Prostituted Women)

4,500 euros have been seized, as well as various narcotic substances: 30 grams of cocaine, pink cocaine known as ‘TUSI’ and marijuana along with various tools intended for its preparation for sale in doses, in addition to various drugs to increase sexual activity, along with five vehicles used both for the transfer of the girls (from the airport or for ‘outings’), and for the provision of drugs. A total of 22 people have been arrested and, after going to court, seven of them were sentenced to provisional detention.