Costa de Almería
Three Almería nightclubs closed in prostitution investigation
By m.p.
Jan 24, 2008 - 7:56 PM

Two alternative clubs in El Ejido and another in Vícar have been closed down by National Police, in connection with a network broken up last June which was believed to have brought up to 6,000 women into Spain from abroad and forced them to work as prostitutes. EFE said the clubs were closed down this Monday by order of the court in charge of the case, dubbed Operation Zarpa, and will remain closed while investigations continue.

The arrests in Operation Zarpa took place in two phases, 60 in April last year, and a further 21 two months later. Fifteen of the suspects arrested in the second phase were taken into custody in Almería province. Another 47 detainees were women from Russia who were in Spain illegally, and were forced to work as prostitutes. Police said they lived ‘like slaves.’

Money laundering is also investigation.