Police in Spain’s Murcia province have carried out an operation that stunned even seasoned investigators. On a farm in the small town of Ulea, officers discovered 65 foreign workers, most of them from India and Nepal. The workers were living and working under conditions that could only be described as forced labor. Their days were spent in endless shifts, their nights packed into cramped rooms where mattresses, blankets, and personal belongings were strewn across the floor. Hygiene was nonexistent: the kitchen and dining area looked more like an abandoned basement than a living space.
It turned out that the business owner is already serving a sentence for similar crimes committed earlier in Albacete. But even his imprisonment failed to stop the criminal scheme: five accomplices continued to exploit the migrants’ vulnerable situation, forcing them to work nearly nonstop and remain completely isolated from the outside world. Three of those detained have already been sent to pre-trial detention.
Exploitation scheme
The investigation began in autumn 2025, when labor inspectors and police took note of suspicious activity at the farm. Soon it became clear that all those freed were in Spain illegally. This fact became a convenient tool of coercion for the offenders: the migrants were scared to seek help, fearing deportation and prosecution.
Workers labored around the clock, taking shifts in the fields and farm buildings. They were provided neither proper housing nor basic conditions for rest. Their living and dining spaces were unsanitary: dirt, piles of household waste, and no ventilation. Police photos show mattresses crammed into every available space, with personal belongings and kitchen appliances strewn between them, all covered in layers of dust and grease.
Vulnerability of Migrants
Most of those freed were from India and Nepal, who came to Spain seeking a better life. Instead of decent earnings, they found themselves trapped, exploited ruthlessly and cynically for their labor. The perpetrators not only failed to provide any official documents, but also threatened deportation if anyone dared to speak out or request better conditions.
Residents of Ulea, a town with a population barely exceeding a thousand, were shocked by the scale of what was happening. In a small community where everyone knows each other, this became a real upheaval. Many still cannot believe something like this could happen in the 21st century, in the very heart of Europe.
Details of the Investigation
Police have classified the actions of those detained as crimes against the rights of foreign nationals, facilitating illegal migration, and participating in an organized criminal group. Investigators note that such exploitation schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated: criminals exploit migrants’ vulnerability, lack of language skills, and absence of support.
During the operation, authorities seized documents confirming the illegal activity and communication devices used to coordinate the work on the farm. Investigators are now determining whether the criminal group had ties to other regions of the country and how many more people may have been affected by their actions.
Public response
The story has sparked a wide public outcry. On social media and in the streets of Murcia, people are questioning how such abuse could have gone unnoticed for so long. Many are calling for stricter oversight of migrant working conditions and tougher measures against employers who break the law.
The situation in Ulea is a wake-up call for the entire country. The exploitation of vulnerable groups, especially in agriculture, remains one of the most pressing issues in modern Spain. While some profit from others’ suffering, many are still forced to fight for the basic right to humane treatment.
