The National Police in Tenerife have detained six men on suspicion of involvement in the exploitation of minors for prostitution, sexual abuse, and child pornography. These individuals were found to have facilitated varying degrees of involvement in underage prostitution, from arranging travel for profit to making hotel reservations under false pretenses.
The operation was initiated following a report from a staff member at a shelter for minors, prompting the GRUME division of the National Police to launch an investigation. The staff member had come across text messages on a young girl’s smartphone at the shelter, indicating potential involvement in prostitution, as detailed by the Police on Wednesday.
Subsequently, investigators implemented a series of measures to ascertain the gravity of the situation. Through monitoring online advertisements, communication channels on instant messaging services, and hotel bookings, it became apparent that multiple minors were likely being subjected to prostitution.
By employing investigative techniques such as virtual surveillance and analysing collected pornographic material, authorities managed to circumvent the security measures put in place by the culprits, leading to the identification of six men believed to be responsible for the aforementioned crimes, according to the National Police.
Two of the suspects, who ran a club for hostesses in the southern region of Tenerife where minors were forced into prostitution, allegedly attempted to coerce the victims into concealing their involvement.
Nonetheless, National Police investigators successfully identified five underage girls who had fallen victim to these crimes, with the possibility of there being more victims yet to be discovered.
The operation involved 50 officers from various units of the Provincial National Police Station in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, conducting five raids that culminated in the arrest of six individuals for their alleged roles in the investigated crimes.
Authorities seized 15 smartphones, a laptop, and numerous external storage devices during the operation.
Among those apprehended were the individuals overseeing a hostess club in a prominent leisure district in southern Tenerife, who purportedly recruited these minors and exploited them sexually outside the establishment’s operating hours.
Following their testimonies, the detainees were presented before the competent judicial authority, resulting in the imprisonment of three individuals.
The National Police has initiated a second phase of the investigation, unearthing over 200 individuals across Spain involved in the purchase of child pornography, as well as new clients and facilitators of underage prostitution, hinting at additional arrests forthcoming.
