VIDEO: 27 women freed from prostitution as Police raid clubs in South Tenerife
The National Police, working with the Tax Agency’s Customs Surveillance unit, have dismantled a criminal organisation running human trafficking for sexual exploitation in the south of Tenerife. Twenty-seven women, including some under 18, have been rescued, and 14 people arrested, among them the two suspected leaders of the gang.
The investigation began in July 2024 after the Police Victim Support Unit for Human Trafficking received an email warning that a couple in Santa Cruz de Tenerife were allegedly running four nightlife clubs and controlling numerous women.
Recruitment in South America
Officers discovered that the organisation’s leaders travelled regularly to several South American countries, where they targeted young women in severe poverty. According to police, the victims were recruited through false promises of work and a better life, only to be sexually exploited upon arrival in Spain.
Once brought to Tenerife, the women were forced into a debt of up to €3,000, which they had to repay through sexual services. They were housed in cramped, poor-quality accommodation with other victims and were subject to strict rules and constant control. Many were kept on the island for the first three months to avoid detection as undocumented arrivals.
While they had agreed to travel to Spain, believing they would work as dancers in strip clubs, they quickly discovered a very different reality once inside the clubs.
Forced prostitution and drug use
Police report that the women were forced to work long hours, pressured to consume drugs, and in some cases drugged without their knowledge to lower their inhibitions.
The network also profited by carrying out credit card fraud on customers who were drunk or given drugs. Investigators have confirmed fraudulent charges exceeding €70,000.
During the investigation, officers found evidence of sexual exploitation of minors in the clubs. A 16-year-old girl with falsified documents was located inside one of the establishments.
Raids and seized assets
In the final phase of the operation, police carried out searches at seven homes, three clubs, and one administrative office in Tenerife. They seized extensive evidence along with high-value assets, including:
- €90,000 in cash
- A luxury vehicle
- Several high-end watches and jewellery
- Numerous mobile phones
Investigators say the suspects had accumulated significant wealth through the operation, including property holdings and large sums of money.
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