A major operation conducted by the Guardia Civil and Polícia Nacional has resulted in the dismantling of a human trafficking network operating in Gandía, Valencia. Seven individuals have been arrested, including six men aged between thirty-five and fifty-four from Bulgaria and Romania, along with a twenty-year-old Colombian woman. They face multiple charges including organised crime, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, and drug-related offences.

The victims, predominantly Colombian women, were lured to Spain with promises of wealth and were forced to work around the clock without any breaks. Once in Spain, they accrued debts that they could only repay by engaging in prostitution. For those without debts, a fifty percent share of their earnings was demanded. The investigation revealed that some victims resided in Spain and were coerced into prostitution under the guise of job offers.

Authorities launched the investigation following a report last year from a victim of the trafficking operation. The network, led by a Colombian couple, would recruit women via video calls, confirming their suitability for prostitution under false pretences of lucrative earnings. The investigation uncovered potential exploitation of thirty-eight victims, six of whom have been identified as protected witnesses.

During the operation, authorities seized around fifteen thousand eight hundred and seventy euros in cash, numerous mobile phones, a surveillance camera, and various incriminating documents. They also appropriated vehicles and seized drugs including thirty-two grams of cocaine and substantial quantities of performance-enhancing substances. The criminal proceeds were laundered through dubious financial transactions and cryptocurrency wallets, demonstrating a sophisticated operation that extended beyond mere exploitation to encompass significant financial crime.