Five people have been arrested in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, over an alleged fraud in which more than €34,000 was taken from a person with a severe intellectual disability.

Those arrested include the owner of a premises where sexual services were allegedly offered, three employees and the holder of a bank account which police say received some of the victim's money.

The National Police investigation began after a relative reported the situation and the victim later gave a statement. The victim told officers that employees at the premises had allegedly been taking advantage of them financially.

Investigators believe the victim lost a total of €34,510 through bank transfers, card payments, cash withdrawals and mobile payment transactions.

According to police, the victim said employees had allegedly forced them to consume alcohol and drugs. Investigators believe this, combined with the victim's intellectual disability, left them particularly vulnerable and allowed others to influence their financial decisions.

Officers carried out a detailed examination of banking records and obtained information from several financial institutions. This helped them identify accounts which allegedly received the money, as well as mobile phones linked to some of the transactions.

Police also examined CCTV footage relating to cash withdrawals made at bank branches. The footage reportedly showed different people accompanying the victim while transactions were being carried out, helping investigators identify potential suspects.

Investigators also found that a large number of financial transactions took place during periods when the victim was at the premises under investigation.

Police say the evidence indicated a repeated pattern of behaviour which may have involved several people working together to exploit the victim's vulnerability for financial gain.

Five suspects were subsequently arrested and brought before the relevant judicial authorities.

The investigation remains ongoing, with police currently working to find two other people believed to have been involved.