Andorra Police Raid Tourist Flat Suspected of Prostitution, Fine Owner for Registration Failure

Police in Andorra la Vella raided a tourist apartment on Avinguda Doctor Mitjavila last Tuesday, June 9, after the owner reported difficulties collecting rent from tenants who were preparing to leave. Officers controlled eight women of Latin American origin, all sharing the same nationality, suspected of providing prostitution services during their stay. The apartment had been rented to three people, but police found the group inside.

No evidence of illegal activity emerged, so no criminal charges followed. Under local law, the women are viewed as potential victims, with penalties targeting those facilitating or hiring prostitution services. Authorities issued an administrative notice against the owner for failing to register the occupants in the Registre d'Ocupació d'Allotjaments Turístics (ROAT), exposing her to a fine. The women ultimately paid for their accommodation.

One report mentioned a neighbour's complaint about constant foot traffic at the end of last week, while others confirmed the owner's rent dispute as the trigger. Police sources suggest the women may belong to an organised group operating temporarily in the Principat before moving on, though no further official details or investigations have been confirmed.

This is the third such operation in tourist flats this year. In February, police in Andorra la Vella dismantled a site linked to a smuggling network, estimating up to 14 women involved and arresting five people. In March, an Encamp apartment yielded drugs, cash, one detained woman and a fined client.

Police Director Bruno Lasne referenced the campaign against drugs and prostitution in the force's recent anniversary address, noting flats used for sexual services and trafficking. Authorities report rising arrests in 2024 and 2025 for pimping or aiding the trade, often involving men and women, alongside drug finds like "pink cocaine" or tusi.

Itinerant prostitution has proliferated across Andorra, with operators renting tourist apartments for weeks, then rotating sites and personnel to evade detection. Neighbours frequently flag unusual groups and round-the-clock movement. Checks occur year-round, from ski areas in season to urban centres, acting as deterrents despite rare cases involving male sex workers.