Spain's National Police have dismantled a sex trafficking network in an apartment block in Madrid's Arganzuela district, arresting 16 people. The victims were women monitored via cameras and timers on room doors. The operation began in late October following inspections of a suspicious building.
The operation targeted human trafficking for sexual exploitation in a five-story apartment building in Arganzuela, where prostitution services were offered across multiple units. Agents launched the probe in late October after noting a high volume of suspected clients entering and exiting the property.
Upon searching the apartments, police found timers on room doors, set by the managers to track service durations. The women were also monitored via security cameras in common areas and entrances. This led to seven additional checks on nearby establishments on the same street, potentially linked to the illegal activities.
A total of 16 people were arrested for violations of the Foreigners Law: six clients and ten women running the apartments. The investigation identified 140 related individuals. “The main objective of designing these operations is the detection of possible victims or those responsible for human trafficking,” states the National Police in a press release.
The effort involved the Border and Foreigners Brigade, Police Intervention Unit, Aerial Resources Unit, Canine Handlers, and Madrid's Labor and Social Security Inspectorate. Police urge reporting similar cases via the hotline 900 10 50 90 or email trata@policia.es, emphasizing that notifications are vital to aid victims.