As part of a wider effort to fight human trafficking and sexual exploitation, the police in Münster carried out checks at several locations in the city’s red-light district. During these inspections, officers discovered multiple cases of illegal prostitution. One woman was arrested during the operation.
According to a statement released by the Münster police on Friday, June 13, the cases were found in a private apartment in the northern part of the city and in two hotels near the main train station.
One arrest, several warnings
In the apartment in Münster-Nord, police found a woman already known to them. They discovered that there was a warrant out for her arrest, so she was taken into custody. In other locations, police found women working as prostitutes without the proper legal permission. These women were told to stop working and were reported to the city authorities.
The inspections were part of a Europe-wide campaign that took place from June 2 to June 6. The aim of the project was to uncover and stop cases of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Although the raid uncovered illegal prostitution, police say most of the cases were about working without the right documents—not about forced labor or organized human trafficking. Aside from the one arrest, no charges related to trafficking or exploitation were made.
In the two hotels that were inspected, officers found women who were working in prostitution without the necessary registration or licenses. These cases were treated as administrative violations, not criminal ones. The women involved were not arrested but were warned and reported to local officials.
Part of a larger effort
This operation is part of a larger effort happening across Europe to stop illegal sex work and protect people from exploitation. Police said they focused on private homes and short-term hotels because these places are harder to monitor than official brothels. They believe many illegal activities happen in these hidden spaces.
Even though the cases did not show clear signs of trafficking or forced prostitution, police said they will continue looking at the evidence they collected. It’s possible that more serious investigations could happen later if they find more proof of illegal networks.
So far, the results of the operation include one arrest and several reports for illegal sex work. The police will continue to work with city departments and social services to follow up on these cases.
In some situations, people who break prostitution laws may face stricter rules later on—such as visa checks or being told to leave the country. But officials said they also aim to offer help and support to those involved, not just punishment.
