The Spanish Civil Guard frees 25 women in Ibiza who were being forced into prostitution by a criminal organization

The Civil Guard has freed 25 women, arrested four people, and dismantled a criminal organization based on the island of Ibiza dedicated to human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Those arrested are suspected of forced prostitution, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

The operation, dubbed “Gecaroni”, culminated on October 5th, and was carried out by Judicial Police agents from the Crimes Against Persons Area of ​​the Civil Guard of the Balearic Islands.

The members of the criminal organization offered fake job opportunities, related to the hospitality industry or manicures, to women, mainly Venezuelan, between the ages of 18 and 25, from particularly vulnerable backgrounds. In this way, they managed to get them to travel to Spain.

Once in Spain, members of the network would pick them up at the airport and confiscate some of their belongings and the cash they had received. They would then be taken to properties linked to the organization, where they were told they had incurred a debt of approximately €5,000 that they had to repay by providing sexual services.

Coercion, fear, and video surveillance to control the victims

According to investigators, the women were subjected to strict control and were required to remain available to perform these services. The organization used coercion and exploited their irregular immigration status to instill fear and prevent them from seeking medical, police, or other support services.

The officers found evidence of direct surveillance and video monitoring systems used to track their movements. Contact with clients was made through messaging apps and by placing the women in specific locations within the Platja d’en Bossa entertainment district, from where they were also transported to clients’ homes.

During the investigation it was found that the organization carried out its activity mainly during the summer months in Ibiza and that, at the end of the summer season, it moved part of it to other areas of the peninsula.

Luxury homes and vehicles at the expense of this activity

At the same time, investigators discovered that the organization generated income from both sexual exploitation and the sale of sexual enhancers and narcotics to clients. The profits allegedly obtained allowed its members to maintain a high standard of living, including the rental of luxury homes and vehicles.

Furthermore, the operation revealed the economic structure of the network and the possible use of companies linked to its leader to launder the profits from illicit activities.

Finally, after months of investigation, the Civil Guard carried out an operation involving four raids on homes linked to the organization in different parts of Ibiza. In addition to the four arrests and the rescue of 25 women, officers seized nearly €120,000 in cash, allegedly proceeds from sexual exploitation, various narcotics, numerous electronic devices, and equipment related to the surveillance and organization of the criminal activity.

The investigation was overseen by the Second Section of the Violence Against Women Unit of the Ibiza Court of First Instance. The operation involved the Crimes Against Persons Unit of the Balearic Islands Organic Unit of the Judicial Police, the Ibiza Territorial Team of the Judicial Police (ETPJ), the Ibiza Zulu-Bravo Team specializing in the investigation of sexual assaults, the Central Operational Unit (UCO), the Reserve and Security Groups (GRS), the Citizen Security Unit (USECIC), and the Civil Guard Canine Unit.