Three members of a family from Hódmezővásárhely forced their victims into prostitution for several years. At the end of March, they were detained in a police raid, and subsequently arrested by a court order.
The perpetrators have recruited their victims with the well-known “loverboy” crime method: the older brother of the family contacted them through social media, then pretended to be in love with them so as to make the women emotionally dependant on him. He got them to engage in prostitution with the promise of a better future, including a common family home and a new car. Later on the traffickers resorted to threats and violence as well. In addition to the physical abuses, in some cases the older brother even starved them or forced them to take drugs.
In the meantime, the man's mother and the younger son registered and handled the sex advertisements, and they were responsible for the transport of the victims. Between 2016 and 2019, a total of 5 women got into this trap of exploitation, including a minor. Their income was wholly taken by the perpetrators to finance their own livelihood. According to the data of the investigation, the proceeds of sexual exploitation amounted to nearly HUF 20 million (equal to approx. EUR 55 000).
In the raid of 23 March the Riot Police National Bureau of Investigation apprehended the three suspects, while the Asset Recovery Office of NBI seized gold jewelry, consumer goods, cash and locked business units in the amount of HUF 7 million. At the end of the month the court of jurisdiction, on the motion of the Prosecution Service, ordered the arrest to be executed in penitentiary institution for 30 days.
Source (in Hungarian): National Police Headquarters