This article is based on newly unsealed court documents and flight records as of February 2026.
BARCELONA – For years, the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein’s international sex trafficking operation has stretched across continents, from his private Caribbean island to luxury properties in Manhattan and Palm Beach. Now, newly unsealed documents reveal a previously overlooked European nexus: Barcelona, where the convicted sex offender cultivated connections through modelling agencies, fashion events, and a network of young women travelling to Catalonia for work. We have scoured through the released documents to discover all of the mentions of Barcelona in the Epstein files.
The evidence, drawn from millions of pages of Department of Justice files, flight records, and email communications, paints a picture of Barcelona as both a recruitment hub and transit point within Epstein’s European operations. While the financier’s connections to Paris, London, and New York have been extensively documented, the Catalan capital’s role has remained largely unexplored – until now.
Direct Communications: The Digital Paper Trail
The documents reveal multiple direct communications between Epstein and individuals in Barcelona, establishing that the city was more than just a casual mention in his extensive travels.
In June 2012, someone wrote to Epstein with a simple update: “In Barcelona, headed to Ibiza in the morning”. The message’s brevity suggests a familiarity with both locations within Epstein’s social circle – Ibiza being a well-documented destination in his travel patterns.
Three years earlier, in June 2009, another correspondent told Epstein: “Barcelona is amazing! 🙂 didn’t saw much yet just sagrada familia church… and now going for the shows!”. The reference to “shows” aligns with Barcelona’s fashion week events, which would become a recurring theme in Epstein’s communications with young models.
Travel Patterns: The Flight Records
Flight records obtained by investigators show specific bookings connecting Epstein’s network to Barcelona. In January 2017, Epstein booked a flight from Barcelona to Miami on American Airlines Flight AA 113. The booking suggests either Epstein himself or someone within his circle was travelling from the Catalan capital to his primary residence.
Another record from April 2018 shows Air France Flight AF 1048 from Paris to Barcelona, indicating continued movement through the city. Perhaps most telling is a booking from April 2017 for a Wizz Air flight from Barcelona to Riga for someone named Lasma Kuhtarska. The Eastern European connection – Riga being in Latvia – fits a pattern of Epstein’s network sourcing young women from former Soviet states.
Modelling Connections: Barcelona Fashion Week as Recruitment Ground
The documents reveal that Barcelona Fashion Week served as a significant touchpoint between Epstein and aspiring models. In May 2009, a model wrote to Epstein with news that would become a familiar refrain: “I found out this morning that I’m confirmed for Barcelona fashion week and I could earn up to 3000 euros in one week…though the payment will be done in 3 months” .
Significantly, this same communication included discussions about medical treatment. The model mentioned needing Accutane, and Epstein offered to pay for it – a pattern of financial entanglement that appears repeatedly in his dealings with young women. By offering to cover medical expenses while they pursued modelling opportunities, Epstein established relationships of dependency.
Another email from December 2009 shows a different model writing: “I am currently in Barcelona doing some modeling and learning Spanish in the mean time. I am planning to come to NYC in the first week of January“. Epstein’s response was telling: he asked for her age and when she would be in New York – questions that, in context, suggest more than casual interest.
Specific Agencies: The Barcelona Modelling Scene
While Epstein’s most infamous modelling connection was Jean Luc Brunel and his agency MC2 Model Management, the documents reveal other agencies with Barcelona connections.
Select Model Agency appears in the records as having represented a model who had lived in Barcelona. In March 2010, a Russian model wrote: “I am a model, represented by Select model agency. I have been modeling for the past 6 years and have lived in Paris, New York, Barcelona and Japan“. She had been invited by Mark Lloyd, a friend of Epstein, to a dinner for South African President Jacob Zuma at the Ritz Hotel – connecting the Barcelona modelling scene directly to Epstein’s high-profile social circle.
Although MC2’s physical offices were in New York, Miami, and Tel Aviv, the agency’s international scouting operations specifically targeted regions including central Europe. Brunel, described in documents as a “scouting tsunami” who travelled extensively to find young models, would have naturally operated in European fashion capitals like Barcelona.
The financial connection between Epstein and Brunel was substantial: Epstein provided $1 million to Brunel in 2005 when he founded MC2. Court documents allege that Brunel and Epstein used MC2 to bring underage girls from foreign countries into the U.S. by promising modelling contracts. These models were then housed in Epstein’s condominiums and charged rent, “presumably to live as underage prostitutes”.
Financial Transactions: The Money Trail to Catalonia
The documents show direct financial support connected to Barcelona activities. In January 2014, Epstein instructed his associate Daniel Siad: “If you think wise, give [REDACTED] 300 euros, I will reimburse you. I don’t want to see her” while Siad was in Barcelona.
This instruction is revealing for several reasons. First, it shows Epstein providing funds to individuals in Barcelona. Second, the phrase “I don’t want to see her” suggests a relationship he wished to keep at arm’s length. Third, the use of an intermediary (Siad) to deliver cash follows a pattern seen elsewhere in Epstein’s operations of using buffers between himself and financial transactions.
Network Connections: The Social Circle
Epstein’s wider network also had Barcelona connections. His associate Boris Nikolic mentioned the city in August 2011: “Barcelona is fun. On Ibiza on Friday. In NYC on Tuesday“. Epstein responded from Dubai, saying he could “still hear the gasps from Barcelona,” indicating some shared experience or event there that left an impression.
The nature of these “gasps” remains unexplained in the documents, but the comment suggests something memorable – perhaps a social event, spectacle, or incident that both men witnessed or participated in while in Barcelona.
The Recruitment Pattern: How Barcelona Fit the Model
Analysing the documents reveals a consistent pattern in how Barcelona functioned within Epstein’s network:
- Fashion Events as Entry Points: Barcelona Fashion Week and other shows provided opportunities to connect with young, aspiring models.
- Financial Entanglement: Discussions about Barcelona modelling earnings frequently coincided with offers of financial support from Epstein for medical treatments or other needs.
- Travel Coordination: Epstein booked flights to and from Barcelona for individuals in his network.
- Agency Connections: Through agencies like Select Model Agency and the broader reach of MC2’s scouting network, Epstein had access to models who had worked or lived in Barcelona.
- European Transit Point: Barcelona served as a hub connecting to other Epstein destinations like Ibiza, Paris, and New York.
What Remains Unknown
Despite these revelations, significant gaps remain in our understanding of Epstein’s Barcelona connections:
- No evidence of property ownership: Unlike in New York, Florida, or the Virgin Islands, there’s no indication Epstein owned property in Barcelona.
- Limited local contacts: The documents don’t reveal Barcelona-based facilitators who might have operated on Epstein’s behalf.
- Unclear personal visits: While Epstein booked flights to Barcelona, direct evidence of his personal presence in the city is limited.
- Agency specifics: Beyond Select Model Agency, the names of specific Barcelona modelling agencies connected to Epstein remain unidentified.
The Bigger Picture: Barcelona in Context
Barcelona’s appearance in the Epstein documents fits a broader pattern of European fashion capitals being integrated into his network. Paris, with its established modelling industry and Epstein’s apartment there, has received more attention. But Barcelona – with its own fashion week, modelling agencies, and proximity to Ibiza – provided another European node.
The city’s role appears to have been primarily as a recruitment and transit point rather than a base of operations. Young women travelling to Barcelona for modelling opportunities would come into contact with Epstein’s network, sometimes through agencies, sometimes through social connections. Once identified, they might be offered financial support, travel assistance, or invitations to events – the beginning of a relationship that, according to numerous accusers, could turn exploitative.
Ongoing Investigations
The unsealed documents represent only a portion of the materials gathered by investigators. With over 3 million pages in the Epstein dataset, and more potentially to come through ongoing Freedom of Information Act requests, the full extent of the Barcelona connections may yet emerge.
What’s clear from the existing evidence is that Barcelona was not incidental to Epstein’s operations. It was a documented point of contact, travel, and recruitment within a network that spanned continents and preyed upon vulnerable young women pursuing modelling careers.
Additional reporting contributed by document analysis. All citations refer to documents in the Epstein dataset released through court proceedings and FOIA requests.
