Nine victims of sexual trafficking in Tarragona and Castellón released

The Spanish Civil Guard has dismantled, within the framework of Operation MATE, a criminal organisation based in the provinces of Tarragona and Castellón dedicated to human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. In total, the two leaders of the organisation have been arrested – a 37-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man – as well as four other members of the criminal group.

The operation began in early 2024 after learning of the existence of several locations in Alcanar (Tarragona) and Vinaroz (Castellón) where prostitution was allegedly carried out by women who were in a situation of extreme vulnerability and sexually exploited. During the investigation it was found that, specifically, in one premises and in one home, prostitution was carried out by several women who offered sexual services without having an employment contract or the necessary documentation to legally reside in Spain. It was also confirmed that these women also had limited freedom of movement. The agents found that when they had to be taken to another of the places where they were also exploited, they were accompanied at all times by members of the criminal organisation. 

Furthermore, some of the victims lived in the places where they were forced to work as prostitutes, living in overcrowded conditions and in poor hygiene and sanitary conditions. The criminal network exercised strict control over them, both with personnel who acted as “watchmen” and with video surveillance systems installed in the homes where they lived. The investigation revealed that the criminal organisation used websites dedicated to offering sexual services as its main means of attracting clients. On these platforms, they published photographs of the women, accompanied by misleading information, thus perpetuating the exploitation and control over them, obtaining economic gain from all of this at the expense of the victims’ vulnerable situation.

Phases of the MATE operation 

During the first phase of the operation, two people, leaders of the organisation, were arrested and a total of three searches were carried out in properties in Alcanar and Vinaroz. In total, 6,270 euros were seized, as well as numerous computer devices with information relating to the recruitment of women and extensive documentation related to the organisation’s illegal activities, such as notes on the services provided and payments received from the victims.With the profits from this activity, the members of the organisation had also purchased 80 lottery tickets from the Christmas draw in order to launder the hypothetical prize. Likewise, possible transfers of money from trafficking activities to Latin America are also being investigated.

The detainees were placed at the disposal of the Investigating Court No. 3 of Amposta (T), which ordered their imprisonment.
During the second phase, four more members of the criminal organisation were identified, who were in charge of logistics and transporting the women to the places where they were exploited. They also carried out transports to collect the women who arrived in Spain under the false promise of an employment contract, taking them to the places where they were to be treated.Once it was determined that the freed women were victims, the comprehensive assistance protocol for their recovery was activated, with the support and advice of social services and collaborating entities. This psychological and social help aims to ensure that, after the rehabilitation process, the women manage to recover the freedom, dignity and autonomy necessary to undertake a life outside the control and abuse of their traffickers.