The Moroccan authorities in Fez ordered the detention of 7 people, including two minors, in connection with working within a human trafficking network that lures minors for sexual exploitation and records them in video clips for an attractive financial reward.

The accused, on Sunday, consisting of 5 girls and 2 young men, were referred to the public prosecutor in the city of Fez. The charges include: “The felony of human trafficking, deceiving minors under the age of 18 and 12 years, assaulting honor by violence, and preparing a place for prostitution."

According to a security source, the detainees under investigation range in age between 17 and 44 years, including two minors and a person with a criminal record. Preliminary research data indicates the suspects' involvement in luring underage girls to apartments in neighborhoods of the city of Fez, especially the poor classes, where they are sexually exploited and these practices are filmed in video clips sold to people abroad.

Investigations revealed, according to the source, the involvement of two of the detainees in preparing private homes. Furthermore, searches conducted in this case resulted in the seizure of mobile phones and footage of the filmed sexual exploitation operations, in addition to confiscating receipts for money transfers from abroad suspected to be proceeds of this criminal activity.