A network of pimps who exploited Chinese prostitutes in apartments throughout France was dismantled in mid-January, AFP learned on Friday from the judicial police and a judicial source.
According to this last source, eight people were indicted on January 13 in this judicial investigation opened in February 2022, in particular for aggravated pimping, trafficking in human beings and assistance with illegal residence, all in an organized gang.
Seven of them were imprisoned, according to the judicial source.
Pyramid organization
The investigation, opened in 2021, relates to a network linked to criminal organizations in China suspected of having exploited around forty women, who prostituted themselves in short-term rental apartments.
“
The women were placed in apartments by pimps
” and were regularly changed towns.
“
They spent three days in Auxerre, then four days in Lyon etc.
“, explained to AFP Elvire Arrighi, head of the Central Office for the repression of human trafficking (Ocrteh).
This office conducted the investigation with the Nancy border police, where the investigations began.
The network, "
organized in a pyramid fashion
" as observed "
traditionally in the Chinese mafia
", had at its head a leader, nicknamed "
the master
", according to her.
Below him, two right-hand men who each managed a switchboard where customers made an appointment after finding the number on websites dedicated to prostitution.
The pimps were based in Paris and in the inner suburbs.
The victims donated 50% of their earnings to the network and the money collected “
went back to China, to local criminal organizations
”, continued Commissioner Arrighi.
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The respondents used Chinese applications to communicate or make money transfers, "
which made the investigation more difficult
," she said.
Most of the victims were in an irregular situation.
Some have agreed to be looked after by associations – as permitted by the rights of victims of trafficking – and have thus been able to benefit from a right of residence.
30,000 euros in cash were seized from the home of the respondents, according to Elvire Arrighi.
One of them, of French nationality, made apartments available to the network, according to the commissioner.