Police have arrested eleven members of an international network trafficking in human beings, especially from sub-Saharan Africa, and forcing them to live in subhuman conditions and exploiting them for labour.
The network found their victims in Senegal, offering them the chance of decent, well paid jobs in Spain. By accepting the offer, the immigrants built up a debt of €3,000 which had to be paid off through working.
Once in Spain, the immigrants were kept in an overcrowded apartment where conditions were appalling and unhealthy and for which they each had to pay €200 per month rent. Instead of a legal, well paid job, the immigrants were forced to work on the streets selling counterfeit CD’s and DVD’s, perfumes, watches and other items and for which they were paid a pittance.
The investigation into the network began earlier this year when police learned that a large number of immigrants were living in an apartment in the Carabanchel suburb of Madrid.
During the raids, in which eleven people were arrested, police seized 2,480 items of clothing, 3,553 pirated CD’s and DVD’s, forged documents and €15,900 in cash. The network operated in Spain, Greece, China and several African countries.
Amongst those detained were the leaders of the network, Ibrahima D. and Ndongo D.