A human trafficking and prostitution ring has been broken up by Madera police.
Detectives say the suspects brought in women from Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador. Search warrants were served in Madera and Fresno on Thursday. The first warrant was served on the 1000 block of Tulare Street in Madera. They had been watching this area for about a month. Detectives say it was a temporary location. Suspects would move the operation up and down the state, sending the women to local swap meets.
Cmdr. Dino Lawson, Madera Police Dept.: "What we found is that they were never free to leave. There were threats made against their families, that if they tried to leave, their family would be killed if they didn't cooperate."
Five arrests were made in Madera. Police seized about $8,000 in cash.
TXT 24
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