Police announced Tuesday they had broken up a suspected human trafficking ring that was allegedly bringing women to Israel from Eastern Europe to work as prostitutes in eight brothels around the country.
Prostitution is legal in Israel, but pimping, running brothels, and trafficking are prohibited. Police did not say why the eight women were held. Police said they uncovered the network after a months-long investigation. Women who left their details and were deemed suitable were offered work in Israel.
Additionally, her son and several other suspects allegedly rented and maintained the apartments where the prostitutes worked and ferried the women from one brothel to another. Early Tuesday morning police raided apartments in Jerusalem, Haifa, and Ashkelon that were used as brothels, and found large amounts of cash, cell phones, passports, and other documents. They also raided the home of the main suspect and her husband.
The suspects were not named. Police raid a brothel whose owners are suspected of human trafficking on August 28, Israel Police.
