Madrid: Spanish authorities have successfully freed 162 women who were being coerced into prostitution by a suspected human trafficking organization, the police revealed on Tuesday. The operation resulted in 37 arrests, with nine suspects currently held in custody.
According to Ghana News Agency, the majority of the victims originated from South America. The organized gang had transformed various apartments and commercial spaces in popular holiday destinations such as Valencia, Alicante, M¡laga, and Murcia into so-called 'massage parlours.' These locations served as fronts for their illegal activities.
The women were subjected to constant surveillance and forced into sex work under deplorable conditions. They had little autonomy and were required to surrender most of their earnings to the traffickers. Recruitment occurred both in the women's home countries and in Spain, targeting individuals who were impoverished and lacked legal residency or work status in Spain.
The police reported that living conditions in the brothels were dire, with women often sleeping in cramped bunk beds or even in the very beds where they received clients. The rooms were typically locked, restricting their freedom further.
In the course of 39 searches conducted throughout the country, authorities seized approximately £141,000 (around $165,000) in cash and three vehicles. The investigation is ongoing, with allegations of money laundering also under scrutiny. More than 60 bank accounts and numerous assets have been frozen as part of the probe.
