Nigerians Arrested in Rome, Brescia, and Iceland for Human Trafficking and Prostitution

Rome: Six Nigerians were arrested in Rome, Brescia, and Iceland as part of an investigation into suspected human trafficking and exploitation of prostitution, police reported on Saturday. The arrests were linked to the Nigerian mafia, which operates many prostitution rings throughout Italy.

According to Ansa News Agency, the police operation was triggered when a girl rebelled against her exploiters, who had promised her a job in Italy. The investigation revealed additional victims, including minors, who endured physical, psychological, and sexual violence during their journey from Nigeria, through Niger and Libya, and finally to Sicily. These victims were forced to travel with a ‘boga’ magical courier on a perilous sea voyage to Pozzallo near Ragusa.

Upon arrival in Rome, the victims were allegedly compelled to engage in prostitution. Those who refused were reportedly confined to their homes, denied food, and isolated from their families in Nigeria. In a particularly harrowing case, a pregnant young girl was allegedly forced to take dangerous drugs to terminate her pregnancy, risking her life, to enable her to be coerced into prostitution.

Investigators discovered that the criminal group employed mafia-like methods, using violence and intimidation to extort large sums of money from the victims and their families, under the guise of “travel expenses” to reach Italy. The operation was praised by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who highlighted the arrests as a significant step in combating foreign organized crime.

Minister Piantedosi commended the police forces and investigators of the Sisco of Rome and the Central Operations Service for their successful operation in Rome and Brescia. He emphasized the importance of the arrests in demonstrating the effectiveness and determination of Italian police forces in tackling all forms of illegality.