The Civil Guard has dismantled two “human farms” in which seven people were held in precarious conditions in order to control their bank accounts and even access their homes.
In total, there are two men detained – aged 30 and 35 – and a woman – aged 30 -. The organization operated mainly in the Valencian regions of L’Horta and La Ribera, where it recruited people in vulnerable situations and who received some type of benefit, such as pensions or public aid.
Their documentation was stolen and they were forcibly detained in inhumane conditions in two homes in Torrent (Valencia). They beat them and abused their mental disabilities to make them sign authorization and representation documents with which the criminal group managed to have up to eleven high-end vehicles, the armed institute indicated in a statement.
Likewise, different properties had been acquired in the towns of València, Torrent and Chiva, which they subsequently rented to third parties for profit.
The organization was looking for people with addiction problems and serious psychological limitations. Most of them had no family or had distanced themselves from them, or were even close to destitution. The ringleader of the plot chose his victims and threatened them with a firearm or beat them into submission while his spouse moved the money between various bank accounts.
The first information was discovered during the eviction of some occupied homes in Monserrat. Officers found several vulnerable people in one of the occupied flats, living in appalling conditions. After taking the statement, the agents began the investigation.
Citizen Security Agents and the Reserve and Security Group, with the support of a dog from the Cynological Service, have carried out two searches in the town of Torrent, where the members of the criminal group have been arrested.
Seven vulnerable people who were held in those properties, in very precarious situations, have also been released. These victims required health care and were transferred to the social services of the Torrent City Council, where they received the first medical and social assistance.
During the search, the agents seized numerous documentation related to the victims. A short firearm has also been found that they would have used to extort money from their victims and hold them in those homes against their will.
The agents have arrested three people who are accused of extortion, money laundering and membership in a criminal organization. The proceedings have been delivered to the Court of First Instance and Investigation number 1 of Picassent.
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