Mallorca job trap: pair held over sex trafficking

A fake job offer on Mallorca, Spain, leads to two arrests: police say a man brought a young woman to the island with a promise of restaurant work, then tried to force her to sell sex. Spain’s National Police arrested the man and his partner in Palma, Mallorca, last Tuesday after months of investigation.

A job that never came

The young woman had known the man since she was a minor. He was a friend of her family, police say. After she turned 18, he arranged and paid for her documents and journey to Mallorca. She was told she could repay the cost by working at a Japanese restaurant and earn money to help her family.

Instead, police say, he demanded that she offer sex for money. When she refused, he threatened to tell her family about the sex work. The woman told investigators that another woman had been assigned to control her. Police say the arrested man’s partner also helped control her, placed adverts for sexual services and handled calls from customers.

Police keep investigating

The pair are suspected of sex trafficking and belonging to a criminal organisation. Police also accuse the man of making threats. Investigators say the group took steps to avoid leaving traces online and in messaging apps.

Police found the young woman a safe place through a non-governmental organisation and arranged psychosocial support. They have identified no other victims so far, but the investigation continues and further arrests remain possible.

Topics: Social affairs · Police · Arrests · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com