In recent years, Chinese organized crime has become increasingly rampant in France. On the 12th, French police once again uncovered a large-scale Chinese human trafficking and sexual exploitation network, in which the group forced indebted women to travel across French cities to solicit clients. The police stated that these women, mostly in debt in China, were forced to earn money through prostitution in France, with their income being heavily skimmed off.
According to the report by "Le Parisien" on the 14th, French police, mobilizing nationwide and deploying multiple teams, uncovered a large-scale Chinese sex trafficking and pimp organization on the 12th. The network controlled about 100 to 120 Chinese women, sending them across France for sex work, forced to entertain 5 to 10 customers daily. These women were all indebted in China, with 60% of their earnings going to the traffickers.
After a year-long investigation, the police from the Central Office for Combating Human Trafficking, in collaboration with the gendarmes from Limoges, uncovered the human trafficking network with "headquarters" located in Paris and Île-de-France.
● 14 Suspects Arrested
Bordeaux prosecutor Gouder stated that 14 individuals suspected of managing the sex trafficking network have been arrested, with one male ringleader detained the day before while preparing to depart for China.
During the operation on the 12th, investigators found dozens of victims hiding in various cities, all of whom will testify as witnesses in court.
Le Parisien noted that this extensive investigation began last summer with the Limoges gendarmes, who followed online advertisements and found many Chinese women being sent to that area. These women, evidently not local, were living in small apartments rented through platforms and had a high turnover rate.
The Central Office for Combating Human Trafficking subsequently joined the gendarmes in the investigation, eventually discovering over a hundred Chinese women involved in this nationwide trafficking network.
● Most Women in Debt in China
Investigators found that these women all came from China, with some first arriving in Spain before being trafficked to France. Phone surveillance revealed that most of these women were in debt in China and were forced to work in France to repay their loans.
Upon arriving in France, they were initially housed in apartments in the outskirts of Paris, controlled by the trafficking network. The group members handled clients, dispatching the women across France for prostitution. Police also uncovered a "call center" responsible for the traffickers' logistics.
This "call center," operated by a couple in the Paris district, was responsible for paying for victims' train tickets, accommodation, posting advertisements, and responding to clients' messages. The trafficking group's revenue was split, with 10% to 15% going to the call center. The group also dispatched members to collect money from victims to prevent them from absconding with the funds.
During the search, investigators seized numerous fake documents and approximately 100,000 euros (about 479,000 ringgit) in cash. This is only the tip of the iceberg, as the court believes the trafficking network could receive up to 800,000 euros (about 3,830,000 ringgit) monthly. However, most of the funds have already been transferred back to China or used to purchase luxury goods mailed back to China.
The 14 suspects may be held for 96 hours before being transferred to Bordeaux's public prosecutor for judicial investigation, facing charges of serious sexual exploitation and organized human trafficking.
● Sex Work Legal but Street Solicitation Prohibited
Chinese sex workers have been present on the streets of Paris for nearly 20 years, initially primarily older women from Shenyang, Liaoning, who mostly chose sex work "voluntarily" after losing their jobs due to China's industrial transformation and finding it difficult to earn money illegally abroad.
This group mostly works independently, waiting on the streets for clients, with autonomous activities, and does not typically involve organized human trafficking. In France, sex work is legalized, but street solicitation or brokering sex work is prohibited.
However, an anonymous Chinese sex worker told Central News Agency that in recent years, networks arranging for them to solicit clients outside of Paris have increased, with others assisting in purchasing tickets.
Besides brokering sex work, the forms of human trafficking crimes are also increasing. At the end of 2023, police broke an extensive Chinese sex crime network in various French cities, referred to by French media as "touring sex work," arresting nine traffickers. In late March this year, a 42-year-old Chinese man was charged with trafficking and sexually exploiting dozens of Asian women. In April, Paris police further uncovered a Chinese sex industry group using restaurant meal tickets for money laundering crimes.
The internal economic downturn in China has forced debtors to go abroad for illicit work to pay off debts, leading to increasingly rampant organized crime networks in France. French journalist and director Vigain recently stated in a Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD) interview that one-third of existing organized crime in Europe originates from China. (News source: Central News Agency)