Five suspects accused of luring women into prostitution under false pretenses
Bern – Authorities in the Swiss capital have dismantled a major human trafficking operation. Five individuals are under investigation for allegedly bringing 146 women from China to Switzerland and coercing them into sex work. The women were housed in private apartments, kept largely isolated, and had minimal contact with the outside world.
Half of their earnings were taken by the suspects. The remaining income was used to repay debts imposed by the traffickers and cover basic living expenses. The women had no control over their work — pricing and negotiations were managed entirely by the accused. Prosecutors are now preparing formal charges.
Fear and dependence keep victims silent
According to Reto Waldmeier from the Bern police’s special investigations unit, uncovering such cases is extremely difficult. Many victims show no visible signs of abuse and rarely reach out to authorities on their own. In some instances, conditions in their home countries were so dire that the exploitation in Switzerland seemed relatively tolerable. Victims also fear losing their only source of income — often vital for supporting families back home — or facing retaliation from those controlling them.
Forced labor extends beyond the sex industry
General Prosecutor Annatina Schultz stated that since 2008, there have been 41 human trafficking convictions in the canton of Bern. While most involved sexual exploitation, there were also documented cases of forced labor in agriculture, construction, and domestic work.
Because victims seldom come forward, Schultz emphasized the importance of regular inspections and targeted enforcement to uncover hidden abuse and dismantle trafficking networks like this one.