On Wednesday, October 8, Spanish authorities announced the dismantling of a criminal network composed of seven individuals suspected of exploiting dozens of Moroccan migrant agricultural workers in the “La Rioja” region, including minors. These workers were employed illegally and under inhumane conditions.
According to the Spanish Civil Guard, those arrested include six men and one woman aged between 28 and 50, all of Moroccan origin. They were exploiting fellow countrymen in vulnerable situations, recruiting them from various areas in Spain to work in agricultural fields in southern “Rioja.”
The number of victims reached at least 45 individuals. None held employment contracts, and they were forced to live in overcrowded housing, within rooms lacking ventilation and sanitation. Some were reportedly locked inside with external padlocks.
Exploitation through Fake Contracts
Miguel Ángel Saiz, a spokesperson for the Civil Guard, revealed during a press conference that three minors aged between 12 and 17 among the victims were subjected to the same harsh working conditions as adults, without any consideration for their age or rights as children.
He added that these workers toiled all day picking fruits and vegetables, pruning, and weeding, with no legal protection, sometimes receiving no pay at all or only symbolic wages, such as one euro per kilogram of peppers. They were charged 50 euros for a bed and 150 euros for shared accommodation. The network promised the victims fake contracts and legal status in exchange for their continued labor.
Details of the Security Operation
Media sources reported that security teams raided five homes and five industrial facilities, discovering 15 individuals in one apartment, some without residency papers, including a couple who were held in a small room.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 22,000 euros in cash, along with 2,500 euros in jewelry and a large number of documents currently under investigation. Additionally, two vehicles were confiscated and six bank accounts frozen, with the operations of one company temporarily suspended.
