National Police agents released 13 victims of economic exploitation and arrested eight leaders of an organization dedicated to “human trafficking” in Seville (seven) and Cádiz (one).
The victims, most of them women, of Colombian nationality, were forced to work 24 hours a day with elderly people, as interns and without any help, as reported by the national police in a note.
The organization threatened their families in Colombia if they did not periodically pay the debts incurred, forcing some of them to leave their homes and change countries.
Three searches were carried out at homes in the city of Seville and an inspection in a restaurant in the town of Zahora (Cádiz).
Daily work 24 hours a day
The police action began when they became aware of the existence of several victims of human trafficking in the city of Seville, exploited by caring for elderly people 24 hours a day.
The agents’ investigations uncovered a criminal organization led by a family of Colombian nationality who exploited citizens of the same nationality in the workplace.
The criminal network recruited the victims in their country of origin, Colombia, taking advantage of their situation of extreme need and offering them care work for dependent people.
The victims were flown from their home countries, with the group covering travel costs and signing an IOU for a different amount for each, which they would then have to pay.
They entered Spain posing as tourists and the organization provided them with the money to prove their livelihood as well as a return ticket which was canceled on their arrival by the organization.
Once they arrived in Madrid, they were transferred by train to the city of Seville and from there they were distributed to different locations in the province where they were housed and operated, which allowed them to be controlled at all times .
They worked 24 hours a day with dependent people, as interns and without relief, because they required constant attention.
Commissions and debts
In some cases, victims were pressured to pay their debts due to an undue delay in obtaining employment.
It was for this reason that members of the organization suggested that they engage in prostitution in order to quickly pay off the debt, according to the note.
In addition, according to the National Police, the organization charged them a commission for finding work which was added to the debt already incurred for the transfer.
The network threatened their families in Colombia if they did not periodically pay the debts incurred, forcing some of them to leave their homes and change countries.
During the investigation, three entries and searches were carried out in the city of Seville and an inspection in a restaurant in the town of Zahora (Cádiz). Eight high-end mobile phones, 4,000 euros in cash and extensive documentation relating to the investigation were seized.
The operation culminates with the release of 13 victims of economic exploitation in the city of Seville and the arrest of eight people, including the leaders of the organization under investigation, in Seville (7 ) and in Cádiz (1), for the offenses of belonging to a criminal organization, trafficking in human beings for the purposes of economic exploitation and violation of the rights of foreign citizens.
