Agents of the Guardia Civil in Fraga, a municipality in the province of Huesca, have dismantled a criminal network that had been exploiting foreign seasonal workers, many of whom were in irregular situations.

The operation resulted in the arrest of three individuals and the investigation of three others on suspicion of crimes against labor rights, rights of foreign citizens, coercion, and threats.

The suspects involved are five men and one woman, aged between 25 and 50, all residents of the Bajo Cinca region, near Lleida.

Initial indications of criminal activity emerged in March during inspections conducted by the Guardia Civil in conjunction with the Huesca Labor and Social Security Inspectorate.

From April through early May, multiple complaints were received, indicating that the victims had been subjected to labor exploitation for an extended period, often without reporting the situation due to fear of reprisals.

The modus operandi of the network involved recruiting victims through social media, taking advantage of their precarious circumstances.

Employers provided misleading job offers with terms that did not correspond to the reality of working hours, conditions, or salary.

Many of the victims were undocumented migrants in Spain who were promised assistance in obtaining legal residency and work permits after working for the company.

However, when victims sought to regularize their status, they were often dismissed.

The working conditions for the victims were reported as very poor, as they labored without contracts six days a week, receiving minimal wages significantly lower than that of legitimate workers in similar positions.

Additionally, they were provided inadequate housing, which they had to pay for from their salaries, living in dilapidated and unsanitary conditions while being subjected to ongoing pressure to increase their output.

Investigations revealed a stark discrepancy between the number of workers registered with Social Security and the actual workforce needed for the company's level of activity.

Following the information gathered, the judiciary authorized a search and seizure.

Given the circumstances of the victims, the Guardia Civil sought the assistance of social services in the Bajo Cinca region, which provided shelter and sustenance for some of the affected individuals, as well as support and guidance regarding their irregular status in Spain.

The Fraga post of the Guardia Civil has prepared the relevant legal proceedings, which, along with the arrested individuals, have been submitted to the Investigating Court number 2 of Fraga, where the detainees have been released with charges.