8 women arrested

Strike against illegal prostitution in apartments

57,000 euros in fines, 170 charges and 53 apartments inspected in 17 days: this is the result of a crackdown on illegal prostitution in Vienna. Eight women were arrested for illegal residence in Austria.

Following the horrific murder of three sex workers in Vienna last February and the steadily increasing number of online advertisements for illegal sex services in private apartments, the Federal Police Directorate launched an extensive focus operation.

In April and May, 53 apartments were checked on a total of 17 days. In the process, 170 charges were filed for violations of the Vienna Prostitution Act. 80 women were reported. They are between 19 and 48 years old and mainly come from Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain, Serbia and Austria.

Eight women arrested
In one case, links to suspected human trafficking were established. The Vienna State Office of Criminal Investigation took over the investigation. Eight women were provisionally handcuffed for illegal residence in Austria. Fines totaling 57,000 euros were imposed on the spot.

The majority of the apartments checked were rented exclusively online on a short-term basis via housing provider websites. Ten of these apartments were closed on the spot. The landlords or owners were reported for providing an apartment for prostitution. Narcotics were also seized in six apartments.

The Federal Police will continue to carry out further priority operations in the coming months.