Spanish authorities have rescued 162 women forced into prostitution from a suspected human trafficking ring, DPA reported, citing police, BTA reported.
Police said they had arrested 37 people, with 9 of the suspects remaining in custody. Most of the victims are believed to be from South America. The organized group is alleged to have converted apartments and business premises in holiday areas such as Valencia, Alicante, Malaga and Murcia into "massage parlors".
The women were watched around the clock and forced to work as prostitutes. The victims lived in terrible conditions, had little freedom and had to hand over most of the money they received.
The police statement said that in the brothels, the women were forced to "sleep on bunk beds or in the same beds they shared with their clients". Most of the rooms were locked.
€141,000 in cash and three vehicles were seized during the 39 searches across the country. The investigations are ongoing and police said they are also investigating allegations of money laundering. More than 60 bank accounts and a number of assets have been frozen.