The National Police in Santa Cruz de Tenerife have successfully dismantled a criminal organisation involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, drug trafficking, and related crimes.
The operation resulted in the liberation of six victims and the arrest of nine individuals, six of whom are now in preventive custody.
Authorities conducted a total of 15 searches across Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Vigo.
The case began in February last year when investigators received a report of a young Venezuelan woman potentially being trafficked for sexual exploitation in Tenerife.
Further inquiries revealed the existence of a criminal network recruiting young women from Venezuela, luring them to the Canary Islands under false pretences, and saddling them with debts of approximately €6,000. At least four additional women were found in similar circumstances in various properties on the island.
A Four-Phase Operation
The investigation unfolded in four phases, culminating in December 2024.
Initially, officers identified three apartments in Tenerife being used for prostitution and two residences occupied by the organisation’s key figures. Following searches of these properties, police arrested four people and freed five victims.
The raids also yielded incriminating documents, illegal substances, mobile phones, IT equipment, and cash totalling €13,595 and $10,561.
Subsequent phases of the operation uncovered more evidence through victim and witness testimonies, analysis of seized documents, and intercepted communications. This led to six further searches in properties located in Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura), Vigo (Pontevedra), and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. During these searches, police discovered three additional apartments where seven women were being forced into prostitution.
The final phase identified a new victim and resulted in two more arrests, marking the complete dismantling of the criminal network.
Out of the nine individuals arrested throughout the operation, six remain in preventive custody. Their charges include human trafficking, coercive prostitution, drug trafficking, and organised crime.
Call for Public Cooperation
The National Police emphasise the importance of public cooperation in combating human trafficking. Citizens with information or suspicions about such activities are encouraged to report anonymously via the "Collaborate" section of the official police website (www.policía.es), where submissions are handled confidentially by specialists.
This operation highlights the continued commitment of law enforcement to eradicating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals.