Spanish police have rescued 25 ‘vulnerable’ women who were forced into prostitution by a human trafficking gang that is accused of luring them to Ibiza with jobs that didn’t exist. 

Once they arrived in Spain, the young women, mostly from Venezuela, allegedly had their money and belongings confiscated and made to pay off €5,000 (£4,236) they were told they owed to the crime group. 

The victims, aged between 18 and 25, were coerced into prostitution, trafficking and money laundering, the Civil Guard said. 

But on Monday police launched a daring rescue mission that freed the 25 women from captivity while officers made four arrests.

Yesterday, Spanish police said: ‘The Civil Guard has freed 25 women, arrested four people, and dismantled a criminal organisation based on the island of Ibiza dedicated to human trafficking for sexual exploitation. 

‘Those arrested are suspected of forced prostitution, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

‘The operation, dubbed ‘Gecaroni’, culminated on October 5th, and was carried out by Judicial Police agents from the Crimes Against Persons Area of ​​the Civil Guard of the Balearic Islands.

‘The members of the criminal organization offered fake job opportunities, related to the hospitality industry or manicures, to women, mainly Venezuelan, between the ages of 18 and 25, from particularly vulnerable backgrounds. 

Spanish police arrested four people in raids connected with the human trafficking gang in Ibiza on October 5

Officers seized nearly €120,000 (£102,000) in cash, believed to be the proceeds of illegal activities including sexual exploitation

 ‘In this way, they managed to get them to travel to Spain. 

‘Once in Spain, members of the network would pick them up at the airport and confiscate some of their belongings and the cash they had received. 

‘They would then be taken to properties linked to the organisation, where they were told they had incurred a debt of approximately €5,000 that they had to repay by providing sexual services.’

Investigators have said the women were allegedly subjected to ‘strict control and were required to remain available to perform these services’. 

The gang coerced and exploited the women’s irregular immigration status to ‘instill fear and prevent them from seeking medical, police, or other support services’, according to the Spanish Civil Guard. 

During four raids across Ibiza, police found surveillance and video monitoring systems that the gang used to track their victims’ movements. 

They also seized nearly €120,000 (£102,000) in cash which is believed to be proceeds from sexual exploitation, drugs, several electronic devices and surveillance equipment. 

According to the Civil Guard, the crime syndicate made contact with clients through messaging apps and the women were placed in specific locations within the Platja d’en Bossa entertainment district in Ibiza. 

A police dog and its handler search one of the four properties that were raided on Monday

Several Spanish Civil Guard officers are pictured during one of the raids 

From there, they would be taken to clients’ homes. 

Investigators also found that the organisation made money from selling customers ‘sexual enhancers’ as well as narcotics. 

This money paid for some members of the gang to rent luxury homes and vehicles, allowing them to ‘maintain a high standard of living’, according to the Civil Guard. 

Police also said they believe they have uncovered a ‘network and the possible use of companies linked to (the gang’s leader to launder the profits from illicit activities’.