The Guardia Civil arrested the parents of a 14-year-old minor in Navarra for selling her to another family living in Lleida so she could marry their son. In the same operation they also arrested two other men, aged 40 and 20, and a 42 year old woman, as responsible for the purchase and transfer of the minor. They are all accused of the crime of human trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage. The minor, already released, was found begging in the Catalan town of Les Borges Blanques (Lleida), according to the Guardia Civil.
The events occurred in January in a town on the Navarre coast. The minor’s parents, a 35-year-old man and woman, met with another family living in Lleida and closed the illicit deal for which they received a compensation of 5,000 euros, five bottles of whiskey and some basic food items.
After the agreement, the minor, belonging to a Roma community, was transferred to Catalonia. There she remained under the control of the trafficking family for the purpose of consummating the forced marriage. The girl, who did not attend school, was also forced to beg on the streets to ensure an income for the purchasing family.
The Guardia Civil explains that the case was discovered in a small town following a conversation that ended with a complaint from Social Services. At that time, an investigation was opened by the Minor Women’s Team (EMUME) of the Civil Guard of Navarra. This report was essential to identify the people involved and find out where the minor was. This is why they ask citizens to report them if they become aware of similar cases.
The officers immediately coordinated with the Mossos D’Escuadra who located the victim in the province of Lleida in October. The minor is in a protection centre, where she receives specialized care and support.
The victim’s parents were made available to the Tudela Guard Court. While the other two men and the woman involved in the purchase and transfer of the minor were made available to the Court of First Instance and Education of Lleida.
The 016 telephone line assists victims of sexist violence, their families and those around them 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in 53 different languages. The number is not recorded on the phone bill, but the call must be canceled from the device. You can also contact via email 016-online@igualdad.gob.es and via WhatsApp on 600 000 016. Minors can contact the ANAR Foundation telephone number 900 20 20 10. In case of emergency it is possible to call 112 or the telephone numbers of the State Police (091) and the Civil Guard (062). And if you can’t call you can use the ALERTCOPS application, from which an alert signal is sent to the Police with geolocation.
