Nine arrested in Orihuela human trafficking raid
The Guardia Civil says women of several nationalities were found living in overcrowded conditions in the basement of a villa. The Guardia Civil has arrested nine people suspected of belonging to a criminal network that allegedly sexually exploited women at a villa in the municipality of Orihuela. The suspects, five women and four men aged […] The post Nine arrested in Orihuela human trafficking…
Nine individuals have been arrested in Orihuela as part of a human trafficking investigation, according to the Guardia Civil. The suspects, comprising five women and four men aged between 35 and 45, are alleged to be members of a criminal network that allegedly exploited women for sexual purposes. The operation, Operation Libertas Merlot, began in February 2025 after officers obtained evidence suggesting the property was being used for illegal activities.
Surveillance revealed men frequently entering and leaving the villa, while women of various nationalities were present. The suspects operated with a clear hierarchy, using cameras to monitor the women's activities. Inside the property, officers discovered the women living in overcrowded conditions in the basement. They seized over €20,000 in cash, payment terminals, drugs, measuring equipment, luxury items, and notebooks containing entries with women's names and monetary amounts.
The investigation involved joint efforts from judicial police units in Alicante and Madrid. The arrested individuals face charges of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, drug trafficking, money laundering, and membership in a criminal organization.
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