The National Police, in coordination with the Orihuela Local Police, conducted a successful operation leading to the rescue of four women who were being held against their will and coerced into prostitution at a nightlife venue. The intervention resulted in the arrest of a couple, a man aged forty and a woman aged forty-four, who are suspected of charges including illegal detention and physical abuse.

The police action was prompted by an emergency call received during the early hours of the morning, concerning a potential case of unlawful confinement. Upon arrival, officers heard the victims’ cries for help coming from inside the locked establishment, which was secured with chains. To effect the rescue, police had to forcibly open one of the access points and break a lock.

Initial investigations uncovered that the victims, aged between thirty and forty-eight and from Morocco, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, had been living within the venue, compelled to perform sexual acts against their will. Rather than receiving monetary payment, they were reportedly “compensated” with illegal drugs and faced continuous surveillance and mistreatment.

Following their rescue, the women exhibited severe anxiety symptoms and were provided with medical assistance on-site. The forty-four-year-old woman was arrested the same night, while her partner, who has a history of similar offences, was detained hours later. Both suspects have been brought before the Orihuela Criminal Court. The National Police emphasises the crucial role of public cooperation in identifying and reporting cases of sexual exploitation and urges individuals to confidentially report via email or free hotline in Spain.