Agents of the National Police have arrested in Arrecife a 29-year-old Nigerian woman, with no police record, as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of human trafficking. The arrested woman was part of a criminal organization that illegally introduced women of Nigerian origin into Spain, who were subjected to voodoo rituals to break their will and forced into prostitution. They had to pay off a debt contracted as a result of their trip to Europe that ranged between 20,000 and 55,000 euros.
The investigation began in 2015 when, as a result of various anonymous information, police officers became aware that Nigerian women were being subjected to sexual exploitation in Lanzarote. Police investigations revealed the existence of a criminal group dedicated to human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation with ramifications in other countries of the European Union.
Voodoo rituals to break their will
The same captured the victims in Nigeria, where they carried out voodoo rituals to break the will of the young women and prevent them from fleeing. The women were deceived with promises of a life in Spain and transferred in boats that sailed from Libya to Italy. These journeys lasted approximately seven days and up to 500 people traveled in the boats in subhuman conditions.
For this itinerary, the young women contracted a debt with the organization of between 20,000 and 55,000 euros, which they had to pay off by working as prostitutes in public roads during the time necessary to return the money.
Once in Italy, physical and sexual assaults against women began, who were also held in the organization's homes for weeks with hardly any food or water. Once the criminal organization obtained falsified documentation from the victims, they were transferred to Spain, where the madame took charge of them and the regime of sexual exploitation began. The young women, who lacked other means of livelihood, were forced to work as prostitutes and obey the exploiters.
Arrest and searches
The investigation culminated in the arrest of a woman of Nigerian nationality, responsible for controlling the young women and who forced them into prostitution, as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of human trafficking. Finally, and with the mandatory judicial order, an entry and search was carried out in a home in Puerto del Carmen, where 3,500 euros, foreign currency and various computer supports were seized that will be analyzed by police experts. The two women released were assisted and welcomed in assistance and protection centers for victims of human trafficking. Once the corresponding police report was prepared, the detainee was placed at the disposal of the competent Judicial Authority.
The police investigation was carried out by agents of the Unit against Immigration Networks and Document Forgeries of the Provincial Brigade of Immigration and Borders of Las Palmas, as well as by the Operational Group of Foreigners of Lanzarote, in collaboration with the General Immigration and Borders Police Station.
This operation, called 'Rejo', is part of the National Police Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation, launched in 2013, and which led to the creation of the Central Brigade against Trafficking in Human Beings, attached to the General Immigration and Borders Police Station of the National Police. With the implementation of this plan, the National Police activated the telephone line 900 10 50 90 and the email [email protected] to facilitate citizen collaboration and the anonymous and confidential reporting of this type of crime.
