A criminal organization that exploited a man from Baracaldo (Vizcaya) at work for 17 years was dismantled in the Navarrese town of Caparroso. During operation “Lucendi”, four people were arrested. They had benefited from more than 100,000 euros for services requested on behalf of the victim.
The victim’s family reported in 2009 that I lost contact with him in 2003 and that he had various medical and financial problems.
Last March, the Civil Guard, as part of the so-called “Desbizca Investigation” operation, located this man in Caparroso, who was since 2007 I have been traveling with a family of fairground workers.
Investigators discovered that the victim collected a series of benefits, such as unemployment benefits, pensions and tax returns, from a bank account she owned, but that it was another person who collected is presented to an ATM in the Navarrese city to withdraw the money.
Once the missing person was in contact with his daughter, he expressed his desire to go live with her and abandon the family he lived with because “they had him like a slave” and prevented visits from his daughter. daughter in the house where he lived. father, alleging continued excuses without logical reasons.
Forced to wake up before the others
The Baracaldes’ statements made the agents suspect that he might be a victim of trafficking in human beings for economic exploitationsince they forced him to wake up half an hour before the others to light the fire, turn on the washing machines, fold clothes and carry out cleaning tasks.
He was also responsible for the maintenance and supervision of children’s attractions during their trips to the various municipal fairs, as well as their cleaning from morning to evening, all of this. without receiving any remuneration.
He also did not have free access to food or drink and was forced to eat separately from others. Their diet was mainly based on snacks. Tobacco was also provided to him, not allowing him to ask for or purchase it.
He had to shower in public
He slept in the semi-trailer of the house truck during the fair period, being prohibited from accessing the rooms of the family trailer, except to clean it. In this caravan, there was a bathroom for the exclusive use of the family clan, therefore the victim I had to shower in public with a garden hose from the truck, also doing his business in a location away from the street.
The detainees have a home in Portugal and when they traveled there, the victim slept in the garage on a mattress, she did not have access to television or the telephone, nor was she allowed to go out unaccompanied, except to do specific shopping or buying with the right amount of money, justifying the expense with a purchase receipt.
Furthermore, the victim said she felt intimidated by the aggressive treatment inflicted on certain members of the family clan. He had no access to his health insurance card or his identity card and had been unaware for years that he was receiving a financial benefit in his name. In total, the detainees would have benefited from more than 100,000 euros for the various services requested on behalf of the victim.
Due to all these events, last Wednesday, November 20, two entries and recordings have been made in two houses and in a domestic truck in the town of Caparroso (Navarra), seizing more than 120,000 euros in cash, the victim’s bank account, as well as receipts for requests for different benefits in his name and other effects personal information such as photos. family members, health bracelet, clothing, etc.
In addition, two telephone terminals were seized for study. Among the indicators of human trafficking detected during the entries and searches, it should be highlighted that the victim’s documents were locked and in the possession of one of the detainees, the room where she spent the night presented unsanitary conditions and deplorables, which had nothing to do with In the rest of the rooms where the family lived, their few possessions were limited to an old photo album of their children, an alarm clock and a briefcase.
Total dependence on the organization
The victim had total dependence on the criminal organizationwho fed him or sometimes gave him clothes. The residence was located in a remote area and he had to use a vehicle to contact other residents of the city. Man was therefore totally dependent on transport and could not have any contact with the outside world.
In total, four people were arrested. belonging to the same family for crimes of trafficking in human beings for economic exploitation, membership in a criminal organization and electricity fraud.
The investigation, carried out by the Organic Unit of Judicial Police (UOPJ) of Biscay, is led by the Court of First Instance and Instruction number 1 of Tafalla (Navarra) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Foral Community of Navarre.
The UOPJ Navarra, the Rapid Action Group and the Cynological Service of Cantabria, Pegaso Navarra Team, participated. Investigations remain open and new arrests cannot be ruled out.
