The Civil Guard has dismantled a complex and extensive criminal network involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation, based in Seville and linked to other criminal organizations in different provinces of Spain.
Thanks to information from one of the women who managed to escape, the Civil Guard confirmed the modus operandi of this criminal network, who recruited potential victims in Latin American countries through a false promise of employment in Spain dedicated to the care of elderly people.
Initially, the organization itself would cover the cost of these women’s travel from their countries of origin, as well as the processing of their documentation. However, once they landed in the country, members of the organization immediately confiscated their passports, informing them that they had incurred a debt of approximately €10,000 to the organization for travel and accommodation expenses.
As a consequence of this alleged debt, under coercion and intimidation, even under the threat of ending the lives of their relatives in their country of origin, the detainees demanded that these women practice prostitution in brothels managed by the organization itself.
The relationship between the criminal organizations involved the periodic transfer of the women through different properties in the national territory belonging to other criminal organizations, thus hindering possible investigations by the police forces.
Likewise, the Civil Guard confirmed that the debt incurred by these women was assumed by the leaders of the different organizations, causing the debt to constantly increase, with the victims having to answer to the new organization, and continue to practice prostitution to pay off the debt to them.
The Civil Guard obtained new information through various channels, which led to a detailed analysis in an investigation that has lasted more than nine months. As a result of this information, a joint working team was created between the Persons Area and the Women and Minors Team of the Judicial Police of the Civil Guard of Seville.
Development of the exploitation phases
Once all the necessary evidence and clues had been gathered, the Civil Guard proceeded to carry out the so-called Bonifaz operation in two operational phases.
The first phase, carried out at the end of September, resulted in six raids on properties used for sexual exploitation in the city of Seville, with the collaboration of the Seville Local Police. Eleven arrests were also made in the towns of Gelves (Seville) and Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz).
Simultaneously, during these searches, 15 women working as prostitutes for the organization were identified inside the properties. Two of these women were immediately placed in shelters run by specialized organizations, thanks to the efforts of the Civil Guard investigators.
During these searches, two high-end vehicles were seized, along with various video surveillance devices used to monitor the women exploited in these homes, mobile phone terminals, electronic payment devices (POS), accounting documents and fraudulent contracts made with the victims themselves, as well as 20,000 euros in cash.
In the second phase, carried out this month, the Civil Guard conducted six raids on properties in the towns of Vigo (Pontevedra), Mijas (Málaga), Peñíscola (Castellón), and Alzira (Valencia), where they arrested eight people and located and identified seven other women used by the organization for prostitution. During these raids, the Civil Guard seized €7,780 in cash, as well as a large number of electronic devices and documents.
Final result of the BONIFAZ operation
The investigation carried out by the Human Trafficking Unit of the Civil Guard’s Judicial Police in Seville has concluded with the arrest of 19 people, who have been brought before the competent judicial authority as alleged perpetrators of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, two counts of sexual exploitation, one count of sexual assault, and membership in a criminal organization. Due
to the large amount of documentation seized, all the information gathered is still being analyzed, the investigation remains open, and further police action is not ruled out.
This operation is part of the Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings of the General Directorate of the Civil Guard.