Italian police crack down on human trafficking

Jan 24, 2007, 13:50 GMT

Rome - A major police crackdown on the trafficking of foreign immigrants in Italy led Wednesday to the arrest of more than 780 suspects and a further 1,300 being reported to the authorities.

Police said the suspects, most of them from Eastern Europe and Africa, were apprehended during concerted early morning raids across Italy. They are accused of abetting illegal immigration and of forcing scores of young women to prostitute themselves.

Operation Spartacus, codenamed after the famous Roman gladiator-slave, was hailed by Italy's interior minister, Giuliano Amato.

'The trafficking and forced prostitution of women, and minors in particular, is one of the most ignoble crimes committed in Italy,' Amato said.

Police said Wednesday's arrests capped a four-month-long investigation that allowed them to uncover how human traffickers operate in Italy.

Some girls were 'bought' by traffickers for 200 euros (260 dollars) in their home country and were then brought to Italy, where they were forced to prostitute themselves. The money they earned, which averaged 5,000 euros per month, was kept by their captors. Women who dared rebel were often beaten and abused.

Police said one 16-year-old girl was forced to have unprotected sex and was sent back on the streets until she was six-months pregnant.

'There was absolute wickedness on the part of their exploiters,' police chief Francesco Gratteri told reporters.

A total of 45 girls who agreed to cooperate with the investigation were rewarded with a residence permit.

Police also seized 15 apartments, four nightclubs and three labs were prostitutes entertained their guests.