Ferrol Romanian slave gang

An adult and five minors who were forced to beg on the streets of Ferrol (Galicia) have now been released from custody.

The National Police have broken up a criminal network run by a large clan of Romanians.

The 20 detainees specialised in trafficking teenagers from their home country, forcing them to beg for at least eight hours a day and work like slaves the rest of the time.

The minors, generally aged between 13 and 17 years-of-age, were brought to Spain following promises to their Romanian parents that they would be married to a member of the clan and would find work here in the construction or agricultural industries.

Instead of fulfilling these claims the clan members forced their victims to beg on the streets in even the most severe weather and to do all the cooking and cleaning when they got home.

All of the money they earned was taken away from them, leaving them totally dependent on the clan for survival. Most of it was then used to buy luxury cars.