Operation 'Pucero' by the Civil Guard
The Civil Guard has carried out an operation in Cantabria resulting in the arrest of 27 individuals accused of being part of a criminal group that forced foreign women into prostitution under threats. This operation, known as 'Pucero', has also investigated an individual in Valencia.
Exploitation conditions
The women targeted by this group were lured with promises of employment and accommodation, but upon arriving in Spain, they were forced into prostitution under deplorable conditions. The victims were housed in various apartments and a club in Argoños, where they lived without access to basic supplies and in unsanitary conditions, surrounded by dirt and rodents.
The investigation began after detecting the arrival of these women in municipalities such as Santoña, Argoños, and Cicero. Civil Guard groups confirmed that at least four women had been recruited under the false pretext of improving their quality of life.
In addition to sexual exploitation, the group was also involved in drug trafficking. It is estimated that they obtained narcotics in Valencia, which they then distributed in Cantabria, using rental vehicles and hiding the drugs in apartments in Laredo and Colindres.
Furthermore, the organization was responsible for the illegal occupation of homes in various locations in Cantabria to rent them out to other vulnerable individuals.
At the end of September, the operation resulted in the arrest of 20 men and seven women in Cantabria, with five of them entering prison. They are linked to crimes of human trafficking, drug trafficking, property usurpation, and other related offenses.
During the operation, searches were conducted at a dozen properties, where a significant amount of cash, marijuana, cocaine, hashish, and items related to criminal activity were seized.
Resources have been offered to victims of human trafficking, as well as judicial protection measures, through various collaborative agencies.
You may also like
