The National Police have freed eleven women from the control of a criminal organisation in Arrecife that sought out vulnerable women from Colombia and Venezuela.
According to reports, the criminal organisation, residing in Arrecife, sought out vulnerable women from Latin America with false offers of work in Spain as housemaids or webcam models. Once they had successfully convinced a victim, the organisation would finance their transport to Lanzarote.
Once the women arrived on the island, they would have their passports taken away from them and told that they now had a debt of approximately 10,000 euros to pay off by means of prostitution.
An investigation was launched by the National Police after two victims reported the organisation. As a result of the investigation, a search of the property was conducted in which six people were arrested and 9000 euros & 2.2 million Colombian pesos were seized.
FINES
The 11 women would accrue more debt via a series of penalty fines from the organisation, for acts including not cleaning up, taking out the rubbish or staying out beyond a set curfew.
To pay off the debts, the women were forced to prostitute themselves. The organisation would keep 40% of the income generated by the women, however, they would not receive their “share” of the money until all debts were paid off.
Additionally, the women were kept under constant video surveillance that forced them to be available for work 24 hours a day. If any of the 11 women refused to work, they would be met with physical threats.
HELP HOTLINE
This operation, carried out by the National Police, is part of its plan against human trafficking. As part of the plan a special telephone line and email has been set up to allow for reports and anonymous tip offs – 900 10 50 90 and trata@policia.es
