Five arrested for forcing women into prostitution in Tenerife

Five people have been arrested in Tenerife after police uncovered an alleged network forcing women into prostitution to repay imposed debts of up to €8,000.

The National Police identified three victims during an operation centred on a flat in La Salle, Santa Cruz, where investigators say Venezuelan women were subjected to sexual exploitation.

According to the police account released today (Thursday), the women had to remain available around the clock, seven days a week, and could not refuse sexual services.

The investigation began in August 2025 after one of the victims gave a statement at a police station. Her account prompted inquiries that allowed officers to establish how the alleged organisation operated.

Police say the suspects recruited women in Venezuela by taking advantage of their vulnerable circumstances. Once they arrived in Spain, the women were told they owed between €4,500 and €8,000, which they were forced to repay through prostitution.

On reaching Tenerife, they were taken to the flat in La Salle.

Investigators say the suspects controlled the women’s bank accounts, managed advertisements on contact websites, arranged sexual services and handled the money earned.

The alleged control therefore extended beyond organising appointments to the women’s finances and their ability to decide which services they would accept.

The operation culminated in a search that led to five arrests and the identification of three victims. Officers seized €8,630 in cash, seven mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet and documents relating to the investigation.

The precise dates of the arrests and search were not disclosed in the announcement. No details were provided about the identities of those detained or any subsequent court decisions.

The National Police have urged anyone with information or suspicions about human trafficking to contact their specialist service. Reports can be made anonymously and confidentially by calling 900 105 090 or emailing trata@policia.es. The same channels are available to victims seeking help.