A police operation called “Aurélia-Belona” was conducted in cooperation with the Guardia Civil, Mossos d’Esquadra, and Polícia Judiciária, resulting in the arrest of three individuals, including a couple who led the organization from the Algarve, as cited by Spanish authorities.
The couple, a foreign man aged 44 and a woman aged 29, were detained on October 7 in Boliqueime, Loulé, under European arrest warrants for suspected human trafficking in Spain, the PJ reported at the time.
During the house searches carried out by the PJ, “instruments relevant to the facts under investigation” were seized, along with drugs, cannabis in the growing phase, and a significant number of prohibited caliber firearm ammunition.
The third arrest occurred in Lérida (Spain), and according to Spanish police, the individual was responsible for controlling the victims on Spanish soil.
The dismantled network lured women in vulnerable situations in South America, in some cases using paramilitary structures to ensure their relocation.
One woman was transported through various Asian countries before arriving in Spain, where she continued to be exploited in different provinces.
The investigation began in 2024 and culminated in simultaneous searches in Lérida, Tudela (Navarra), Irun (Guipuscoa) in Spain, and the Faro district in Portugal, freeing eight women from various South American countries.
The victims have been rescued and are receiving specialized support in line with human trafficking combat protocols.
Besides various documents, authorities seized €3,800 in cash, electronic devices, ammunition, drugs, and other elements deemed relevant to the process.
In Portugal, the two main suspects, considered the network leaders, also face accusations of drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms.
The investigating judge in Barcelona ordered pre-trial detention for the three detainees.
The operation is seen as a significant step in combating transnational crime linked to sexual exploitation on the Iberian Peninsula, highlighting the network’s capability to operate across several countries and use complex routes to move victims.
Authorities emphasize that international cooperation was crucial in disrupting a criminal scheme that had been ongoing for over a year.
