Three arrested, two in Bizkaia, for exploiting 41 migrant construction workers
Almost all the victims were in an irregular situation and had debts of up to 30,000 euros, attracted by false promises of work, and EITB has learned that searches have been carried out in Zamudio and Barakaldo.
The Civil Guard has dismantled in the Basque Country a criminal network dedicated to the exploitation of migrants in the construction sector. In the operation, known as "Ambotan-Canapu", 41 vulnerable victims have been detected. The network had its economic headquarters inVitoria-Gasteiz and its main centre of activity in Bizkaia.
The Judicial Police opened an investigation last summer in Álava and Cantabria, where officers detected crimes related to trafficking in human beings, irregular immigration and violation of the rights of foreign workers. According to the police, the main official operated from Bizkaia, while the financial headquarters was located in the Alavesa capital.
The logistics of the workers was centralized in Vitoria-Gasteiz: dozens of workers gathered at various points in the city early in the morning, and from there they were distributed in vehicles to various construction works, travelling hundreds of kilometres a day.
Searches and arrests
A total of three persons have been arrested by the Civil Guard, all businessmen, and a fourth is being investigated for their involvement in the incident, as well as searches in Zamudio and Barakaldo, where various documents and electronic devices have been seized.
Vulnerable victims
A total of 41 victims have been located (40 of them in an irregular situation); many of these workers had debts of up to 30,000 euros to reach Spain, attracted by false promises of work.
In addition, a number of accidents at work have also been detected. At least two workers have had to be intercepted in health centres and subsequently removed from the company's activity in order to conceal their situation.
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