Israeli arrested in Portugal over Colombia child prostitution ring

A former Israeli soldier wanted by Colombia for sex trafficking, including of minors, has been arrested in Portugal, Spanish police, which took part in the operation, said.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

25 May, 2019

Police arrested Assi Moosh, 45, near Lisbon on Wednesday [Elheraldo]

A former Israeli soldier wanted by Colombia for sex trafficking, including of minors, has been arrested in Portugal, Spanish police, which took part in the operation, said on Thursday.

Police arrested Assi Moosh, 45, near Lisbon on Wednesday while in possession of fake Israeli identity documents, Spain's Guardia Civil police force said in a statement.

He is suspected of having operated a "bunker-like" hotel in Taganga, a Colombian fishing village that has become popular with backpackers, where young women and underaged girls were sexually exploited, the statement added.

Colombian authorities deported Moosh - whom local media called "the Devil of Taganga" - in 2017 because he was deemed to be a threat to public order.

But they recently issued an international arrest warrant for Moosh via Interpol for drug trafficking, money laundering and trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Spanish police suspect Moosh hid for a while on the Spanish holiday island of Ibiza, and then Barcelona before he was arrested in Portugal earlier this week.

In December Colombian police announced an operation against the sexual exploitation ring Moosh is suspected of setting up. Three Israelis and two Colombians were detained in the sting.

Tourism to Colombia has increased since the government in 2016 signed a peace agreement with leftist rebels but many foreigners come to the country seeking easy access to drugs and prostitution, and sexual exploitation is a major problem.

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