ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Police in Athens say they have broken up a sex-trafficking ring that lured more than 40 Nigerian women to Greece with promises of legitimate jobs.
Instead of jobs, the women were held for ransom or forced to work as prostitutes, Kathimerini reported Friday.
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Police broke up the ring with the rescue of five young Nigerian women who were being held captive until each of their families paid a ransom of $119,000.
They arrested a 20-year-old Nigerian woman believed to be part of the ring and are seeking her husband, a Nigerian with Greek citizenship in the scheme.
Police say members of the ring blackmailed some of their victims to work as prostitutes by threatening to place voodoo curses on their relatives.