Advertisement

Police tackle illegal prostitution in Carinthia

Staff reporter
Staff reporter - [email protected]
Police tackle illegal prostitution in Carinthia
Red light district. File photo: APA

Austrian law enforcement authorities, with the support of Europol, have identified 11 potential victims of human trafficking and reported ten people for illegal prostitution in Carinthia.

Advertisement

Authorities checked 360 prostitutes, mainly from Eastern Europe, and 40 associated individuals. 

As well as focusing on illegal prostitution, police also carried out checks on legal brothels to identify victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation, and the criminal networks involved.

This was the first result of a long-running investigation into an organised crime group involved in trafficking young women for sexual exploitation from Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans into Western European countries.

The investigation was launched in 2013 when the activities of the criminal group were detected across different European countries.

Austrian authorities cooperated with teams in Germany, Romania and Switzerland, according to Europol.

Approximately 80% of the prostitutes working in Carinthia are of Romanian origin, and a Romanian liaison police officer was also present during the operation.

Carinthia has a booming legal brothel business - with an influx of men travelling over the border from Italy where prostitution is illegal. 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also