A criminal organization, specializing in human trafficking for labor exploitation, has been dismantled thanks to a joint operation between the National Police, the Civil Guard, and the Colombian National Police. The network recruited Colombian citizens in situations of economic and social vulnerability, offering them false promises of training and professional internships.
Upon arrival in Spain, victims were transferred to catering establishments, primarily in Tarragona and Madrid, where they were subjected to labor exploitation. The excuse for this exploitation was the repayment of the debt incurred for their travel. In the final phase of the operation, codenamed 'Aguazul-Napoleón', three individuals were arrested in Tarragona.
The detainees in Tarragona are two women, aged 54 and 41, of Spanish and Colombian nationality respectively, and a 45-year-old Colombian man. These individuals were subject to international arrest warrants issued by Colombian authorities. They have been placed at the disposal of the Audiencia Nacional (National Court), which has jurisdiction in such cases.
Concurrently, the Colombian National Police conducted four raids in Bogotá, resulting in the arrest of five individuals allegedly integrated into the organization's international recruitment structure.
The investigation began in November 2023 when an organization based in Torredembarra, which recruited Colombian citizens under the guise of training programs, was dismantled. A hierarchical structure was identified, with individuals in Colombia responsible for locating and recruiting vulnerable victims, often creating travel debt used as a control mechanism.
Operational phases in April and July of 2024 and 2025 allowed action against members in Spain. The third phase concluded with the three arrests in Tarragona and the five in Colombia. The total outcome of the operation, initiated in 2023, includes 30 arrests and 57 potential victims identified, covering the entire process from recruitment to labor exploitation.
