Police in Brabant have arrested five men on suspicion of sexually exploiting several women, mainly Belgian, over a prolonged period.
The suspects, aged between 30 and 60, come from Roosendaal and Bergen op Zoom. During the investigation, officers also encountered several women who may have been victims of human trafficking.
The inquiry began after local concerns about the use of the designer drug flakka, and suspicions that the gang used the highly addictive drug to make the women dependent before forcing them into prostitution.
“We found these women living in appalling conditions,” the investigating officer said.
“This type of crime is not only punishable, but also causes victims to lose their self-worth and become completely dependent. It is very difficult to escape that situation on one’s own. We hope that with the right support services, they will be able to recover.”
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