The Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone shut down a gang of young men taking advantage of underage girls who ran away from home to force them into prostitution last week.
The police conducted a series of searches on Monday 9 January as part of a prostitution case that was launched after an official report was made.
"The gang placed and managed ads on the Quartier Rouge website and moved the girls from one rented location to another in order to offer them to potential clients," the police said in a press release on Thursday, adding that the phenomenon is on the rise under the banner of "Romeo pimps."
Following the house searches, two people were arrested and placed under arrest by the investigating judge. A third suspect was arrested and released on conditions. One last suspect has not yet been apprehended.
