Punitive expeditions in Ticino: 19 arrests, including 18 minors

(Keystone-ATS) Nineteen people, including 18 minors, were arrested in the Lugano region this week. They are accused of having trapped their victims by offering them sex before turning the meeting into a punitive expedition.

The police operation took place between Tuesday and Thursday and led to the arrest of 18 minors aged 14 to 17 and one person aged 18, all living in the Lugano region. The charges are serious bodily harm, assault, coercion, theft, kidnapping and extortion, the cantonal police said on Friday.

According to the first reconstructions and in a way that the investigation will now have to determine in detail, the perpetrators used social networks and fictitious profiles to contact people who wanted to have sexual relations. They then organized a meeting which turned into a punitive expedition. The facts were then filmed and partly shared with third parties.