The National Police have rescued eleven women from a sex trafficking ring in Tenerife, and arrested five people believed to be part of a criminal gang operating in Santa Cruz and La Laguna.
They launched the investigation after one of the victims came forward to report what had happened.
Her testimony led officers to uncover a network that was luring women to the island with false promises of work and legal residency, only to force them into prostitution.
Detectives say the gang arranged travel, paid for documents, and promised jobs to the victims, but once they arrived in Tenerife, they were coerced into sex work.
The suspects are said to have handled everything from renting flats used for prostitution to transporting the women and controlling their day-to-day movements.
Searches were carried out at five addresses, two in Santa Cruz and three in La Laguna, leading to the arrest of five alleged members of the same family. Officers seized over €10,000 in cash, several mobile phones, surveillance cameras, and a laptop. The victims’ passports were also recovered.
All five suspects have been remanded in custody, and the women have been offered support and access to social services.
Officers are urging anyone with information about human trafficking to contact them, either anonymously on 900 10 50 90 or by email at trata@policia.es. All reports will be handled in confidence by trained investigators in your language.
