The Federal Judicial Police (PJF) searched this Tuesday 26 addresses in Antwerp, Charleroi, Louvain, Neufchâteau and Brussels, as part of an investigation into human trafficking in the middle of Chinese prostitution, communicated the federal prosecutor’s office . Twenty-five suspects, including three Belgians, were arrested for questioning and more than 20 alleged victims, all of Chinese origin, were discovered.
“For several years, Chinese sex workers have been increasingly present in Belgium, particularly in Brussels,” explained the federal prosecutor’s office. “The East Flanders PJF, on the orders of the federal prosecutor’s office and under the direction of an investigating judge from Ghent, has launched an investigation into a criminal organization suspected of transferring women in China to Europe and forcing them to prostitute there. After an intensive investigation, the organization might be brought to light”.
According to the federal prosecutor’s office, the victims were exploited in “private prostitution”, via online rental platforms, hotels, vacation homes, etc. But during the “Covid period”, activities have also shifted towards street prostitution, especially in the Alhambra district of Brussels. Several buildings were seized there as part of the investigation. Moreover, the victims were often moved from one place to another in Europe.
“The criminal organization thus acquired large sums of money, which were transferred abroad by legal and illegal means”, specified the prosecution.
“Simultaneously to the Belgian intervention, searches and arrests were also carried out in Alicante and Barcelona, Spain, at the request of Belgian investigators,” he added.
