Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case have revealed Barcelona’s role as a European recruitment hub for the disgraced financier’s trafficking network. The Barcelona Epstein files show the network operated between 2011 and 2018 during the administrations of Xavier Trias and Ada Colau.
The emails and documents, released by the United States Department of Justice, show that Epstein was a regular visitor to the Catalan capital. Furthermore, he used the city as a base for recruiting vulnerable young women, often under the pretence of modelling opportunities.
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Barcelona Epstein files reveal recruitment centre
According to the Barcelona Epstein files, Daniel Siad, a French-Algerian collaborator, lived in the city. He was responsible for recruiting young women through supposed modelling agencies. The women, often facing economic difficulties and therefore particularly vulnerable, were then transported from Barcelona to a hotel in Paris.
One email from the released documents states: “Spain is safer than Paris, especially Barcelona is full of tourists everywhere.” The tourist crowds apparently provided cover for the operation.
The documents reveal Epstein’s preference for extremely young women. In one communication, he told Siad a 25-year-old woman was “too old” for his purposes.
Wider network beyond Barcelona
Siad’s operations extended beyond Barcelona to cities including Marrakech, Kyiv, Stockholm and Havana. However, the Catalan capital remained the European epicentre. In Paris, another collaborator, Jean Luc Brunel, was arrested in 2020 in connection with the network.
Epstein was found dead in his cell in August 2019 whilst awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Long-standing concerns about prostitution
Feminist groups have long warned that Barcelona remains a popular destination in forums used by sex buyers. The city has seen multiple demonstrations by abolitionist feminist groups demanding action on prostitution. Meanwhile, campaigners say little has changed.
Former mayor Ada Colau previously described prostitution as “sex work”. This position drew criticism from abolitionists who argue this legitimises exploitation.
Calls for action
Whilst the current city council was not in office during the period covered by the Epstein documents, campaigners argue the revelations should prompt urgent action. Therefore, they demand action on Barcelona’s wider prostitution problem.
Critics say the city cannot continue to tolerate the exploitation and abuse of women. In addition, they argue it must not facilitate an environment where women can be “rented by the hour as merchandise”. This reflects wider concerns about the evolution of organized crime in the region.
The Barcelona Epstein files have reignited debate about how the city should address sex trafficking and prostitution. Consequently, there are calls for authorities to acknowledge the problem and implement concrete solutions.
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