Operation Donos da Noite investigated a network of sexual exploitation in Goiana, in the Zona da Mata Norte of Pernambuco, and cities in PB and RN MTE/Disclosure Four women subjected to working conditions similar to slavery were rescued during an operation in Goiana, in the Zona da Mata Norte of Pernambuco. According to investigations, they lived in a prostitution house that was part of an interstate human trafficking network with five other points located in cities in Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte. The investigations also indicate that all the establishments belonged to an employer and were managed by her relatives, who kept the workers under a system of control based on debts, arbitrary fines, constant surveillance and restriction of autonomy. ✅ Receive g1 PE news on WhatsApp Operation Donos da Noite was launched on Wednesday (10), but data on the investigations were only consolidated this Tuesday (16) by the Labor Tax Audit, linked to the Labor Inspection Secretariat (SIT) of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE). The action was also coordinated by the Federal Police and resulted in the rescue of 22 women in the three states. Now on g1 According to the SIT, several violations of human and labor rights were identified in Goiana. The scheme worked as follows, according to the agency: women accumulated debts related to food, personal hygiene products, clothes, perfumes, aesthetic procedures, placement and maintenance of mega hair and other expenses charged by those responsible themselves; values ​​were defined unilaterally, without any transparency and, in general, above average market prices; in some cases, the victims were also left without receiving services provided during the week, remaining constantly in debt; the employer established targets for the sale of alcoholic beverages and snacks, which, if not met, resulted in the application of financial fines, incorporated into the debt system; women were also subjected to "extremely long" working hours, being kept for periods that extended from the afternoon until dawn; Even when they were not performing sexual programs, the victims were forced to stay in salons waiting for clients, without the autonomy to define rest times. According to the MTE, women reported experiencing psychological pressure to participate in the program, including when they were sick, unwell or menstruating. Refusal also resulted in the imposition of fines that made the "debt" with the employer grow. Furthermore, according to investigations, the victims lived in shared rooms, without ventilation, with precarious facilities and unsatisfactory hygiene conditions. In some cases, according to the MTE, the same environments were used for housing and sexual exploitation. Investigation According to the PF, the case began to be investigated by the Specialized Police Station for Women's Assistance (Deam) of Guarabira (PB), of the Civil Police, but the investigation ended up being federalized after identification. In addition to Goiana, the network supported five other prostitution points, in the following cities: Guarabira (PB); Pedro Régis (PB); Alagoa Grande (PB); Nova Cruz (RN). The investigations identified that the women were recruited in other states, especially in Ceará, and transferred between different establishments controlled by the criminal group, which raises the suspicion of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The head of the criminal organization was formally notified due to the characterization of the work in conditions similar to slavery, according to the Labor Tax Audit. The inspectors also ordered the interruption of activities, the payment of labor rights, the cost of returning the victims to their hometowns and the closure of the sites. g1 contacted the Federal Police to find out if any of those investigated had been arrested, but, until the last update of this report, had not received a response. VIDEOS: most seen in Pernambuco in the last 7 days