Title: Six Nigerians Arrested in Human Trafficking Probe Across Rome, Brescia, and Iceland

Date: March 22, 2025

Location: Rome, Italy

In a significant law enforcement operation, six Nigerians were arrested on Friday in Rome, Brescia, and Iceland as part of an investigation into suspected human trafficking and the exploitation of prostitution. Authorities have revealed that this operation is linked to a network known for running prostitution rings across Italy, often facilitated by members of the Nigerian mafia.

According to police reports, the investigation was spurred by the harrowing accounts of victims. One victim bravely spoke out, revealing that she had been lured to Italy with false promises of employment. During the investigation, law enforcement officials identified additional victims, including minors, who had faced severe abuse. These young individuals had reportedly been guided on a treacherous journey through Nigeria, Niger, and Libya. From Libya, they undertook perilous sea voyages to Italy, arriving in Pozzallo, Sicily.

Once in Rome, victims were allegedly coerced into prostitution and faced severe consequences for noncompliance. Reports indicate that some were confined within homes, deprived of food, and cut off from contact with their families in Nigeria. Disturbingly, one girl, who arrived in Italy pregnant, was reportedly forced to use dangerous drugs to terminate her pregnancy under life-threatening conditions to continue engaging in prostitution.

The investigations have revealed that the group operated using methods akin to those of organized crime syndicates, employing violence and intimidation to extort money from victims and their families. These tactics included charging exorbitant "travel expenses" for their journey to Italy.

Italy's Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, commended the police for their successful operation. He described the arrests as a vital move in the ongoing fight against foreign organized crime involving human trafficking, prostitution, and extortion. Piantedosi expressed gratitude to the police forces involved, particularly the investigators from the Sisco of Rome and the Central Operations Service, for their determination and effectiveness in tackling these serious crimes.

This operation underscores the continuing challenges posed by human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, prompting calls for increased awareness and protective measures to prevent such abuses in the future.

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