The National Police have rescued 11 women from a sexual exploitation ring operating in Lanzarote, who were lured to the Canary Islands from Latin American countries such as Colombia and Venezuela, with false job offers as domestic workers or webcam models.
Upon arrival, they were subjected to severe exploitation, confined to cramped windowless rooms, and coerced into prostitution to repay debts that could of up to €10,000 for their ‘new’ life, according to an official police press release issued today.
The liberation of these women became possible due to the courageous complaints from two of the victims, leading to the arrest of six people in Arrecife, during which €9,085 in cash and 2,200,000 Colombian pesos were confiscated.
Investigations revealed that the criminal organisation had collaborators in the victims' home countries who targeted ‘vulnerable’ women, offering them deceitful employment opportunities in Spain. The organisation financed and orchestrated their move to Lanzarote, under the guise of tourism, and taught them to avoid detection at border controls.
Once in Lanzarote, the women were taken to a brothel in Arrecife, where they lived in squalid conditions, crowded into bunk beds in rooms without doors or windows, and their passports were confiscated. They were then informed that they had a debt of €10,000 for their relocation, which they were forced to pay back through prostitution.
The criminal group also operated another facility in Puerto del Carmen, masquerading as a massage parlour which operated exclusively at night catering to clients seeking “more extensive” sexual services.
The organisation maintained strict control over the women through video surveillance, forcing them to be available 24/7, subject to severe physical threats against themselves and their families. They were also ordered to consume drugs if demanded to do so by clients.
The imposed debt was continually increased through a punitive system of fines for minor infractions, such as not cleaning or returning late, making it nearly impossible for the women to repay the money for a clean break. The organisation took 40% of the women's earnings, but the victims received nothing until their debt was cleared.
The group also advertised sexual services on specialised websites and had designated people, known as ‘mamis,’ to manage client calls and payments, which could be made in cash, by card, or via mobile payment apps. Additionally, the premises were used to sell various drugs, including cocaine and "tutsi," as well as erectile dysfunction medication.
The police operation led to the search of six properties in Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen, resulting in the seizure of €9,085 and 2,200,000 Colombian pesos, 55 grams of tutsi, additional quantities of cocaine and marijuana, 100 erectile dysfunction pills, four mobile phones, and a significant amount of documentation relevant to the case.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further arrests are possible. This operation is part of the National Police's Plan Against Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation, which includes a dedicated hotline (900 10 50 90) and email (trata@policia.es) to facilitate anonymous and confidential reporting of such crimes.
