Israeli kingpin wanted for sex trafficking arrested in Portugal
A former Israeli soldier wanted by Colombia for sex trafficking, including of minors, has been arrested in Portugal.
According to Press TV, Spain's Guardia Civil police force, which took part in the operation, said in a statement Thursday police arrested Assi Moosh, 45, near the Portuguese capital Lisbon on Wednesday while in possession of counterfeit Israeli identity documents.
The statement added that Moosh is suspected of having operated a "bunker-like" hotel in Taganga, a Colombian fishing village popular with backpackers where young women and underage girls were sexually exploited.
Colombian authorities deported Moosh, whom local media called "the Devil of Taganga", in 2017, citing 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.
In December, Colombian police announced an operation against the sexual exploitation Moosh is suspected of setting. 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.
ME
