In a small town in Navarra, police have arrested a married couple who, according to investigators, handed over their 14-year-old daughter to another family from Lleida for five thousand euros, several bottles of strong alcohol, and groceries. The girl, who did not attend school, was taken to Catalonia, where she became completely dependent on her new ‘guardians.’
The deal, made in January, stipulated that the teenager would marry the buyers’ son. After moving to Catalonia, the girl was forced to beg on the streets of Les Borges Blanques, bringing money to her new family. Social workers soon noticed her, which set off the investigation.
During the operation, not only the parents were detained, but also three residents of Lleida—two men and a woman—who were involved in transporting and holding the underage girl. They are all currently under investigation for human trafficking and arranging a forced marriage.
After being found, the girl was placed in a specialized center where she is receiving psychological and social support. Authorities note that the teenager belongs to the Roma community, where such cases, unfortunately, are not uncommon, but rarely become public knowledge.
The girl’s parents were brought before the court in Tudela, while those arrested in Lleida appeared before the local magistrate’s court. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to establish all the details and any possible additional incidents.
