Spanish and Colombian authorities have dismantled a criminal network that recruited Colombian citizens for labour exploitation in Spain. The joint operation, involving the National Police and Civil Guard, resulted in 30 arrests and the rescue of 57 victims.
The gang targeted vulnerable individuals in Colombia with false promises of academic training and internships. Once in Spain, victims were forced into hospitality roles in Tarragona and Madrid, controlled by debts used as a mechanism of coercion by the group.
The investigation, launched in November 2023, culminated in raids across Spain and Bogotá. Detainees now face the Audiencia Nacional, marking a significant blow against a hierarchical organisation that exploited social hardship for illicit financial gain.