Criminals forced the women to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without using a condom, according to a press release
The illegal sex shops were located in Malaga and Almeria, both popular resorts for Irish holiday-makers.
National Police dismantled one of the largest criminal organisations in Malaga, which was dedicated to the sexual exploitation of women.
Criminals forced the women to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without using a condom, according to a press release.
It is estimated that during the months of the investigation, more than 500 women of Latin American origin were exploited, and the annual profit of the network exceeded one and a half million euros.
11 victims were freed and 25 people arrested in Malaga, with eight already sent to prison.
Seven houses were searched with €145,338 euros in cash and 1.2 kg of cocaine seized. Four brothels were shut down in Malaga and four in Almeria.
Cops believe over 500 women had been previously exploited.
Spanish police raid
The criminal suspects in Almeria also lured Ukrainian victims with promises of refugee visas, financial support and work.
The criminal group, active since 2020, recruited its victims online, mainly through social media platforms while presenting as managers in a recruitment agency.
The victims were lured with job offers for hostesses and front-of-house roles. The alleged traffickers then exploited the women, including Belarusian nationals, in a club in El Ejido.
The victims were targeted based on their nationality and brought to Europe with tourist visas, while promised legitimate work in the entertainment and tourist industry.
Once in Spain, they were instructed to apply for temporary protection due to the war in Ukraine. Following this process, the victims were granted residency in Spain.
The young women were promised benefits that come with European protection, but were deceived by the suspects.
The victims did not receive any employment contracts and were then exploited for prostitution.
Brothel interior
In Ireland, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) welcomed the passing in the Seanad of a bill aimed at dealing with this issue here.
The Bill, passed on Wednesday, aims to help in identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking.
The commission said the new legislation marked “an important and significant step” in establishing a victim-centred National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for victims of trafficking.
The body added that the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 still lacked “crucial protections”, however.
The group called for more details on assistance and supports available to victims.
IHREC stated that the NRM should apply equally to all victims, regardless of nationality, immigration status, or pending international-protection application.
Ruhama– a charity that supports women exploited in trafficking and sexual crimes- welcomed the new Bill.
Europol raid in Spain
In a statement, they said: “The legislation will be instrumental in tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and supporting and protecting victims of crime.
“With the reformed NRM, rather than being the sole remit of An Garda Síochána, potential victims of trafficking will now be identified by competent authorities i.e. other state agencies and specialist NGOs designated as ‘Trusted Partners’”
Barbara Condon, CEO of Ruhama, said: ‘As a frontline organisation that works with victims of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, Ruhama is acutely aware of the horrific impact of this heinous crime and the life-long trauma that it causes.
“The removal of the necessity for victims to present themselves to An Garda Síochána (AGS) in order to be formally identified as victims of trafficking is most welcome.
“Many victims/survivors fear or distrust the police in their home countries resulting in a reluctance to report to gardaí in Ireland.
“We hope this new legislation will be properly resourced and fully implemented without delay.
“Fundamentally the reformed NRM will enable more victims of trafficking to live a life without fear and afford them the opportunities that they were denied whilst under the control of pimps and traffickers.”
