The Civil Guard dismantles in Zamora a network dedicated to the trafficking of human beings for the purpose of labor exploitation
In the “Isla Azul” operation, 20 people have been freed and the 6 members of the organization have been arrested.
The network created a partnership through which services were contracted with agricultural entrepreneurs
It has been proven that during the course of the investigation they billed more than 120,000 euros
The Civil Guard, within the framework of the “Isla Azul” operation, has dismantled a criminal network in Zamora dedicated to trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labor exploitation.
The 6 members of the organization have been arrested for the alleged crimes of trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labor exploitation, and belonging to a criminal organization. Likewise, 20 victims have been identified who have been put in contact with entities that help people who are victims of human trafficking.
The investigation began last January when the agents, in their work to prevent crimes in the field of agricultural and livestock facilities, detected the presence of several workers, of foreign origin, carrying out agricultural work in different farms, in those that gave indicators of trafficking in human beings.
In the analysis of the information related to the workers and the farms where they provided their services, it was found that they were all related to a company that mediated and contracted the services of the workers with the different farms.
During the course of the investigation, it was found that this company controlled a group of workers, whom it had not registered with Social Security, nor did it pay for the jobs they performed, justifying that this salary was used to pay off the debt that they had contracted for the transfer, the maintenance and the lodging. In addition, they were forced to carry out work in the homes of the exploiters.
The organization was in charge of billing and later collecting the work done by the victims, acting as a service company specialized in agricultural work. It has been found that during the course of the investigation they billed an amount greater than 120,000 euros.
Given the situation in which the victims were living, the operation's exploitation phase began, in which two homes were searched and the 6 members of the network were arrested.
The operation has been carried out by agents belonging to the Organic Unit of the Judicial Police and the ROCA Team of the Zamora Civil Guard Command, who have had the collaboration of the Labor and Social Security Inspection. Likewise, the Red Cross and Caritas have been in charge of protecting the victims.
Actions at the national level
Since the beginning of this year 2020, 405 preventive inspections have been carried out nationwide in places where there could be victims of labor or sexual exploitation, or of human trafficking for these purposes, developed jointly with the Labor and Social Security Inspection.
Likewise, the Civil Guard has carried out 32 operations against trafficking in human beings and exploitation, having released 135 victims and arrested 68 traffickers.
For more information, you can contact the press office of the Zamora Civil Guard Command, at 980.521.600 ext. 815.
