Exploited and threatened. They worked 12 hours a day, with no time off, and when they were not harvesting, they were taken to work at the construction site. This was how the 15 Portuguese lived, subject to “modern slavery” in the Basque Country. They were rescued in a joint operation by the Judicial Police (PJ) and the Guardia Civil da Alava.
Two people were arrested, the leader of the criminal network and the helper, also Portuguese, on suspicion of human trafficking, for whom pre-trial detention was declared.
After a In an investigation that began in February, when one of the victims managed to escape and reported the situation to Spanish authorities, the Guardia Civil and the PJ do Norte launched Operation Worker last week.with the aim of dismantling the criminal network, and it was then possible to free 15 workers from labor exploitation in Rioja Alavesa.
The authorities’ actions were specifically developed in the municipalities of Laguardia and Navaridas, focusing on agricultural and construction work.
#OperationsGC | Released 15 victims of #TreatHumanSeres end of labor exploitation #Alavain association with @PJudiciaria from Portugal.
➡️2 held
➡️Intervention 2 simulated pistols and 9300€ hidden in a double background
➡️5 properties under embargo pic.twitter.com/zCzQ4pF5BQ– Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) May 16, 2023
The victims lived in “painful and deplorable” conditions. “The unhealthy condition of the properties housing the workers was not compatible with the minimum required for human dignity,” said the government representative of the Basque Community, Denis Itxaso, quoted by the Spanish press.
Laborers were recruited in Portugal to work in the harvests in the Rioja Alavesa region, where they would be exploited.
‘The victims were forced to work in inhumane conditions’
Since this is a case of “modern slavery”, this official refers to the fact that the 15 people who were rescued “had no family support and were in total economic dependence on the network”. They were monitored and threatened if they criticized the way they were treated and the conditions in which they were housed.
Forced to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, if they had no work in the harvest, they were taken to work at the construction site. “The victims were forced to work in inhumane conditions, without being able to refuse because of coercion, threats or abuse of power,” said Denis Itxaso.
The criminal network charged these workers for shelter and food. After months of work, some of these alleged victims were charged with debt. Unable to pay these, they were forced to remain in a situation of “slavery” in order to reduce their debts.
During the police action, 9,300 euros in cash, two replica pistols and documentation were seized. Five properties were also arrested, allegedly acquired with “profits obtained from criminal activities”, the Spanish authorities said on Monday. Cases were also opened against businessmen who used the services of this criminal network.
Victims were transferred to shelters in various Spanish cities for protection.
Source: DN
