Police Dismantle Labour Exploitation Ring in La Seu d'Urgell, Arrest 3 and Seize €33,000
Authorities raided five businesses, uncovering irregular immigration, labour violations, and living quarters for workers. The operation exposed severe exploitation at a Montferrer i Castellbó bazaar with undocumented employees and illicit beverage production.
Key Points
- Joint operation by Mossos d'Esquadra, Policia Nacional, Guàrdia Civil inspected 5 businesses in Alt Urgell region.
- Found irregular workers, no contracts, sleeping quarters in restaurant, shop, nail salon, and bazaar.
- Bazaar in Montferrer i Castellbó had undocumented workers, held documents, 200L illegal beverages seized and sealed.
- Two women (43,48) and one man (63) arrested for crimes against workers' rights and labour trafficking.
**Police dismantle labour exploitation ring in La Seu d'Urgell and Montferrer i Castellbó, arresting three and seizing €33,000**
Authorities have broken up a labour exploitation operation in the Alt Urgell region, detaining two women and one man aged 43, 48 and 63 on suspicion of crimes against workers' rights and illegal trafficking of labour.
The joint operation took place on Wednesday, involving Mossos d'Esquadra, Policia Nacional, Guàrdia Civil, local police and the Labour Inspectorate. Its aim was to uncover labour irregularities, irregular immigration and administrative breaches in public-facing businesses. Officers inspected five commercial premises: four in La Seu d'Urgell and one in Montferrer i Castellbó.
Inspections began at a restaurant in La Seu d'Urgell, where agents found a space adapted for two people to sleep overnight. Local police issued a report on the violations.
At a second-hand clothing shop, checks revealed that both a worker and the supervisor lacked employment contracts. The Labour Inspectorate opened proceedings for labour breaches, while Policia Nacional intervened due to one employee's irregular administrative status.
Two nail salons were also examined. The first showed no issues, but the second had two workers in irregular labour situations.
The most serious findings came at a bazaar-style store in Montferrer i Castellbó. There, officers identified two workers without contracts or proper foreign residency status, whose personal documents were allegedly held by a third party. A search uncovered several rooms fitted with showers and a kitchen, indicating sustained illicit activity. Authorities also discovered equipment for producing fermented beverages, including around 200 litres ready for bottling. The Health Department sealed the product and ordered the facility's destruction.
During the search for related paperwork, police seized €33,000 in cash. The three people running the bazaar were arrested and appeared before the on-duty investigative court in La Seu d'Urgell on Thursday.
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