A National Police operation on 30 April 2023 targeted San Lázaro II and several properties in Santiago de Compostela as part of an investigation into alleged sexual exploitation and drug trafficking, as well as suspected criminal-group activity and money laundering. The operation involved the club’s owner and his wife, along with their son and four alleged collaborators. Officers recovered cocaine and cash during the searches. The club was provisionally closed after the operation; the Fiscalía now seeks to close it permanently.
Prosecutors are asking for 30 years and six months in prison for Ricardo Calvo Cobas and the same term for his wife, the other principal accused. The alleged conduct dates back to 2014. The case is assigned to Section Six of the Provincial Court of A Coruña, sitting in Santiago. For each principal accused, prosecutors seek 15 years for three coercive-prostitution offences and seven years and six months for drug trafficking. The requested terms also include two years for membership of a criminal group and six years for money laundering. These are allegations in the prosecution’s case, not findings in a final judgment.
The Fiscalía also wants the seven defendants to pay €15,000 to each of three women identified as protected witnesses. It says they were selected because they were vulnerable or easier to control, including some with drug addictions. Prosecutors allege that the couple directing the business selected the women and supervised their activities, while managing proceeds from the alleged exploitation and drug sales.
According to the prosecution, women were made to follow strict rules and could be fined or expelled if they did not comply. Prosecutors allege they were required to have sex with clients designated by the group, whether they wanted to or not. Some clients described in the case as “special or crazy” paid more for particularly degrading services. Prosecutors say these allegedly included sex without a condom and physical assaults.
The Fiscalía says threats against the women or their families were used to enforce the rules. It identifies Calvo as the organisation’s public face and says his wife managed activities inside the club, including deciding which women could work there. Their son, in whose name the club was registered from October 2022, is also accused of taking part.
The remaining defendants were described as trusted employees of the family. They include two sisters who worked as waitresses and allegedly ran the club when the owner’s wife was absent, along with a cook. Prosecutors say the group used its proceeds to acquire land and other property, as well as cars. A report on the indictment states that the 2023 searches recovered €40,147.61 in cash, which prosecutors link to alleged sexual exploitation and drug sales. They also allege that cocaine was acquired and distributed at the establishment on the road toward Lavacolla.
Under Articles 190 and 301 of Spain’s Criminal Code, the prosecution is seeking the club’s permanent closure and the confiscation of assets allegedly connected to the activity. The establishment had already been shut provisionally following the 2023 police operation. Europa Press reported that the court scheduled the trial for a Friday at 10:00, with seven defendants expected to face proceedings. RUSSPAIN has separately reported on the Ceuta judicial inquiry, a different case concerning alerts and communications during a mass entry.
