Cartagena prostitution ring smashed

A PROSTITUTION ring in Cartagena (Murcia) was dismantled and nine people arrested, National Police revealed.

The criminal group was reportedly led by the ‘Los Toreros’ family clan that owns two brothels in Cartagena.

They allegedly ‘bought’ 24 young women from another sex gang by paying their ‘debts’ to the criminals.

They then forced the victims to work as prostitutes for them. Investigations began in October 2010 after a human trafficking crime group operating in various Spanish provinces was dismantled.

It was discovered that this group was linked to other groups in the Murcia Region.

This led to the ‘Los Toreros’ family clan.

Investigative officers discovered the clan would obtain the young girls via two routes.

They would either illegally bring the women into Spain from Paraguay or buy them from other prostitution crime groups that would, and then force them to have sexual intercourse with their clients in order to pay back the cost of the voyage.

The women would be forced to take drugs, becoming dependent, and at times used firearms to intimidate them. Investigators discovered the ‘pimps’ had a fined the victims for various breaches of rules including arriving late, talking or not wearing skimpy sexy clothing.

During a raid of the premises, more than €54,000 in cash, two firearms, 89g of cocaine, various vehicles and numerous documentations of the illegal activities were seized.

In addition, seven properties have been embargoed and 27 bank accounts frozen. CAPTION: ARMED: Firearms believed to be used to intimidate the ‘sex slaves’.