Police Dismantle Human Trafficking Ring Exploiting Minors in Athens Hotels

Police have dismantled a criminal circuit involved in the exploitation of minors, leading to the arrest of four individuals. The operation, conducted by the Department for the Protection of Minors of the Attica Security Directorate, targeted cases of forced prostitution of underage girls in hotels across central Athens.

Over the weekend of March 17-18, 2024, police carried out extensive operations in Byron, Egaleo, Attica, and Omonia squares, resulting in the identification and apprehension of four Greek nationals, including a 25-year-old woman, a 25-year-old man, a 54-year-old man, and a 21-year-old woman. These arrests were made under warrants for human trafficking offences.

According to police reports, the 25-year-old woman had recruited seven underage girls, aged 14, establishing friendly relationships with them before facilitating meetings with clients for the purpose of sexual exploitation in hotels across central Athens. She would often receive a portion of the proceeds from these encounters and sometimes provided drugs to the victims instead of monetary compensation. Additionally, the 25-year-old and the 54-year-old were responsible for transporting and delivering the girls to the hotels using their vehicles.

Furthermore, the 21-year-old woman played a role in promoting the sexual exploitation of one of the underage girls and received a share of the profits. During the operation, police seized digital evidence and a small quantity of drugs.

All arrested individuals were brought before the relevant prosecution authorities for further legal proceedings. The investigation into this criminal network remains ongoing as law enforcement agencies continue to combat human trafficking and exploitation, particularly involving minors.

(Source: Amna)