A criminal human trafficking organization, headed by a 40-year-old woman from Uzbekistan, was dismantled in Athens by the Organized Crime Sub-Directorate of the Attica Security Directorate. At the same time, three other members of the spiral, from Albania, Bulgaria and Uzbekistan, were identified and are being sought. A case file was filed against them for criminal organization, human trafficking and violation of the immigration code.

According to APE-MPE information from ELAS sources, a woman of the same nationality as the 40-year-old arrested was spotted by passers-by hanging from the balcony of an apartment building in the center of Athens. A citizen, who saw the woman and thought it was a suicide attempt, informed the Immediate Action. Then the foreigner, together with the 40-year-old woman, were brought to the Omonia Police Department, while the Department for Combating Human Trafficking took charge of the case.

As it emerged from the preliminary investigation, the criminal organization sexually exploited foreign women, from Uzbekistan, who were in a vulnerable social and economic position, and persuaded them to come to Greece, promising legal work and large monetary rewards. When the women arrived in Athens, with the use of intense physical and psychological violence or under the pretext of repaying a debt, they forced them to be delivered to brothels, which were exploited by the defendants, withholding all of their income.

It is noted that the members of the criminal organization submitted, without the knowledge of the foreigner who was rescued, an electronic application for the issuance of a residence permit, while they demanded from her the repayment of a debt of 1,000 euros.

According to the estimate of ELAS, the total profit obtained by the spiral from the sexual exploitation of the victim is estimated at at least 37,000 euros. At the same time, it emerged that at least nine other foreign women were employed in brothels, which were exploited by the defendants.

In police searches carried out in two houses in Athens, they found and confiscated, among other things: 2,600 euros, a passport, photocopies of passports and documents of foreign women, money transfer documents, documents used as supporting documents for the issuance of residence permits and a notebook with the names of extradited women and amounts of money.

The patient was provided with assistance and protection, while she is about to be repatriated, following her relevant wish. As for the 40-year-old arrested, she was taken to the Athens District Attorney and referred to an investigator.