A criminal network accused of trafficking and sexually exploiting vulnerable Venezuelan women in Tenerife and Madrid has been dismantled by Spain’s National Police. Seventeen people have been arrested, including four in Tenerife, and three suspects have been remanded in custody.

The investigation identified 14 confirmed victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, along with a further 12 potential victims. Police said the women were recruited in Venezuela by exploiting their financial hardship and brought to Spain under the guise of tourism.

Once in Spain, the victims were allegedly forced into debts ranging from €7,000 to €9,000 and told they had to repay the money through prostitution. Investigators say the organisation operated a network of brothel apartments across several Spanish provinces and regularly moved women between locations to maintain control and maximise profits.

The case began in August 2025 after police received information from witnesses about Venezuelan women being sexually exploited in apartments in Tenerife. As enquiries progressed, officers found additional victims both on the island and in several areas of Madrid, allowing them to uncover the structure of the organisation.

In the first phase of the operation, carried out in March 2026, three victims were rescued, and three main members of the network were arrested. Two further suspects were detained in May, while the latest operation brought the total number of arrests to 17.

According to police, the group was based primarily in Madrid and Tenerife and consisted of at least 11 core members, supported by collaborators who provided properties used for sexual exploitation. Victims were reportedly moved between apartments in Madrid, Asturias, Toledo, Guadalajara and Tenerife.

Investigators say the suspects controlled the women’s bank accounts, managed online advertisements, arranged sexual services and handled the profits. The victims were allegedly required to remain available around the clock and were not allowed to refuse clients or certain sexual practices.

The women were also reportedly forced to live in the apartments and were not allowed to leave unaccompanied. Surveillance cameras installed inside the properties were used to monitor them, while fines, unfair loans and the constant creation of new debts were allegedly imposed to prolong their exploitation.

Police said the organisation confiscated victims’ identity documents and used threats against both the women and their families in Venezuela to prevent them from escaping. The suspects allegedly claimed to be linked to a violent criminal gang, making the threats appear credible to the victims.

During the operation, officers seized cash, mobile phones, a laptop and extensive documentation linked to the investigation. Authorities also froze 14 financial assets believed to have been used to channel profits from the criminal activity.

The investigation remains ongoing as police work to identify others who may have assisted the network from Venezuela, particularly those involved in recruiting victims.