The National Police have successfully dismantled a sexual exploitation network in Elche that also involved the trafficking of synthetic narcotics, including pink cocaine, or “tusi.”

The operation concluded with the release of ten sexually exploited women. It also involved the arrest of twelve individuals who were associated with this criminal organisation, which operated out of two brothels in the municipality of Alicante.

The investigation commenced with an anonymous complaint

The National Police received an anonymous citizen complaint via email, which initiated the case. The message informed them of the presence of a network that sexually exploited South American women between the ages of 20 and 30 in a house situated in a district of Elche. After verifying the information and locating two brothels operated by the same network, officers initiated a comprehensive police operation.

Forced prostitution and complete control over victims

Deceptive employment offers from South America were used to bring the women to Spain. Once they arrived in the country, the organisation informed them that they had accumulated substantial debt and were required to repay it by working as escorts seven days a week. The victims were prohibited from leaving the premises at any time and were under constant surveillance by video surveillance cameras that were installed in the structures.

Hierarchical criminal organisation
Twelve individuals, each of whom was between the ages of 19 and 50, comprised the network. A couple, with assistance from a variety of collaborators, oversaw the scheme.

These individuals included an advertising professional who was responsible for managing advertisements on sex websites and several individuals who were responsible for transporting the victims. Additionally, they had connections in South America, where they recruited the women by making fraudulent promises of employment and exploiting their vulnerable situation.

Forced consumption and trafficking in “tusi” with clients

A warehouse was discovered during the investigations, which contained pink cocaine that had been adulterated with caffeine. In addition to distributing this substance, the organisation forced victims to ingest and sell it during sexual services. They consequently increased the clients’ reliance and realised larger financial gains.

Weapons, drugs, and money were confiscated during the inspections

The operation involved five home searches, resulting in the confiscation of the following items:

• A total of over 9,000 euros in currency
  
• Two luxurious automobiles
  
• Four simulated weapons, two of which are long and two of which are brief
  
• A variety of narcotic substances, such as MDMA, ketamine, marijuana, and anabolic steroids
  
• Electronic devices, mobile phones, and SIM cards

Additionally, criminal activity produced evidence of financial transactions between Spain and South America that resulted in proceeds exceeding 50,000 euros.

Detainees and the judicial situation

The Elche Court of First Instance has heard the twelve individuals who were apprehended. They have identified six of these individuals as critical members of the organisation and remanded three in detention.

All of them are accused of the following crimes: human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, offences related to prostitution, promoting illegal immigration, and drug trafficking.

Citizen collaboration is essential in the struggle against trafficking

The National Police aimed to emphasise the critical role of the public in the war against human trafficking. This case illustrates that the initial step in liberating victims from sexual exploitation networks can be an anonymous report. The police force encourages the public to persist in their efforts to identify and eradicate these criminal practices.

The Spanish Association of Property and Commercial Registrars reported that the province of Alicante accounted for an impressive 44.34% of total sales in the fourth quarter of 2023, the highest percentage among Spanish provinces in terms of property purchases by foreigners.

British nationals accounted for 9.80% of real estate investments in Spain. German nationals followed at 7.32%, French nationals at 6.06%, Belgian nationals at 5.57%, and Moroccan nationals at 5.50%.

Alicante has sold a total of 48,243 properties in the past year, making it the third most active province in terms of transactions, trailing only Barcelona (58,410) and Madrid (70,235).

A marijuana plantation with 481 plants concealed in a single-family home in Busot (Alicante) was dismantled by the Guardia Civil as part of the ‘Legar’ operation,  resulted in the imprisonment of a couple who were accused of drug trafficking, electricity fraud, cultivation and production of narcotic substances, and membership in a criminal organisation.

    The investigation commenced in August 2024, when agents from the Investigation Area of the Guardia Civil of the municipality of Alicante from Sant Vicent del Raspeig, through the collaboration of a citizen, were informed of constant noises from electrical devices and suspicious movements allegedly carried out by some neighbours who resided in a three-story building of approximately 400 square meters (m2).

    The agents discovered that the house was rented by a couple who presumably paid the rent in cash and kept the electricity supplied to the owner’s name after conducting a variety of procedures, as stated in a statement by the armed institute.

    Agents entered and searched the residence on April 1st, where they apprehended the two primary suspects, a man and a woman of Serbian descent, aged 45 and 44, respectively. The suspects resided at the residence with their young son.

    The final phase of flowering was observed in 481 adult marijuana plants that were dispersed throughout all rooms of the housing, including areas that were equipped with works to conceal the installation. These works included modified partitions, boarded-up windows, holes in forged, high-capacity electrical and ventilation systems, as well as specific machinery for the treatment and packaging of the product.

    The clandestine laboratory was equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including low-consumption LED displays, osmosis systems, anti-odour filters, and chemical fertilisers, which were designed to enhance the concentration of the active ingredient in marijuana. These technologies were valued at over 18,000 euros.

    Technicians from the electric company discovered an alleged fraudulent connection to the underground network during the inspection. This connection was potentially hazardous and could have resulted in a fire.  Furthermore, they informed the agents that the purported electricity fraud exceeded 80,000 wattage, which is equivalent to the consumption of approximately 50 residential properties with comparable features.

    The Court of Instruction number one of Sant Vicent del Raspeig has ordered the imprisonment of the two detainees, who are accused of the crimes of cultivation and production of narcotic substances, trafficking drugs, electricity fraud, and belonging to a criminal organisation.