Citizens of Belarus were freed from labor slavery in Spain, where they were forced to work in illegal tobacco factories. This was reported by the Spanish edition of Okdiario.
It is reported that the Civil Guard and the Spanish Customs Control Service managed to eliminate a criminal organization that was engaged in the production and distribution of counterfeit and contraband tobacco products in the provinces of Malaga, Cordoba and Seville. As a result of the operation, 18 people of different nationalities were released, including citizens of Belarus, China and Vietnam, who were "forced to work in inhuman conditions."
According to the publication, foreigners arrived in Spain four months ago at the suggestion of one of the organizations that offered work in the construction sector through social networks. Potential employees were promised from 2.5 to 3 thousand euros per month. However, at Malaga Airport, the arrivals were met by vans and taken to an illegal tobacco factory. On the spot, the workers were left without communication, taking away their mobile phones. Foreigners have been working 12 hours a day for more than 100 days, but they have not received their wages.
It is also reported that of the 18 released workers, 12 (citizens of Belarus and China) have applied to return to their countries.