Sex Slaves - Recap

Narrator explains that the Odessa Ukraine used to be the center of organized crime now it's a pub for sex trade.

He says women are lured by the promises of work abroad and are unaware of the sex traffickers around them.

There is a hidden camera crew led by producer Ric Esther Bienstock to get the story on sex trade. Narrator explains that the secret service is frustrated over the sex trade that it's given Frontline a tip about the whereabouts of a well known sex trafficker.

The trafficker happens to be a fifty plus year old woman. They've nicknamed her "Olga". Esther explains that she runs a fake business as a cover but she takes women from Ukraine to work in Turkey as sex slaves.

Esther says why don't these women run and Felix Golubev, another producer, explains that the sex trade started after the fall of the Soviet Union. He says it's easy to lure young girls with the promises of finding work abroad. The scene shifts to Olga organizing many young girls across black sea. While some girls are legimitaely going to find real work, most of them will be sold to a pimp.

Frontline interviews girls that were sold by Olgan. They all tell the same story that Olga told them they were going to find real work but were sold as sex slaves. Frontline explains that Turkey is a big market for sex slave. They explain that the girls will lie for Olga saying that they are there for real work when they are unaware of what's really going to happen to them.

Throughout this, Frontline shows us hidden camera footage of Olga's movement. The girls are taken into a Russian district of

Turkey known as Oxarai. Frontline tells us that many women are sold there. Olga's former girls explains that once they saw money trading hands with Olga they realized that they were being sold. During one exchange shown on camera, Olga is making
a transaction in front of a policeman.

The girls later explains that once sold they are beaten, and raped into submission. The girls will be prostitutes and sex slaves.

Journalist Victor Malarek that it's not really easy for the girls to run away once they are sold as they are cornered by various
men.

The Ukraine secret service are aware of Olga's sex trade but dont take her down. Frontline explains that there is a man, Viro, claiming that his wife has been sold to the sex trade. The wife's name is Katia The man explains that Katia was sold while she was pregnant and by a former friend of theirs, Vlad.

The lie Vlad told is that he would help Katia in Turkey. Vlad himself is interviewed. He says he sold her for a thousand dollars. Vlad says he now feels guilty about selling Katia and that is why he told Viro that he sold his wife.

Vlad explains more of the inner dealings with the sex trade. He says a man named Apo took the girls. Frontline says that Katia was held in Antalya, Turkey. Viro tried to buy Katia back and then he called police. However, the police failed to bring Apo.

Viro says that the Turkish police were terrible in handing the situation. Frontline tells us that Apo is a violent sex trafficker. They explain that Katia's journey started at Moldovia.. They say this is one of the poorest countries in Europe.

Katia's own mother is interviewed. She blames herself for the situation because she is the one that encouraged Katia to find work in Turkey. The mother is also babysitting Katia's five year old son.

Frontline talks further about Moldova and that is a leading location for sex trafficking. They bring a hidden camera to show how easy it easy to buy women. Felix Golubev, the producer for this episode, goes undercover as the owner of a exotic business. The person interviewed is a woman like Olga in her mid fifties. Just like Olga she acts as the liason and does the deals for traffickers.

Frontline tells us that victims who are sold into sex slaves are never heard from again.

We move back to Viro and see him journey back to Turkey. With Frontline cameras rolling , we see Viro calling Apo's wife, Maria, who is aiding Apo in the sex trade.

VIro assumes the identity of Seriozha a well known pimp. He says he is looking for Katia. He sells a story where he says that he will go to prison unless he can get Katia back. The wife thinks he told on them to the cops.

The wife shows no remorse for what she's done and calls Katia a bitch. Viro continues with the act and eventually comes up with a meeting for Katia the next day.

Meanwhile, Felix does the same and we get see hidden camera footage of the crew visiting strip bars and brothels for Katia.

Frontline finds many girls sold and held in brothels for prostitution. Oksana explains that as many as twenty three girls can be held in a apartment room. She also explains that the Turkish police knows the problem. In fact, many of the clients turn out to be Turkish
policeman.

Viro meets with Maria. She again is reluctant to release Katia. She opts to make a meeting with Apo, herself and Viro.

Victor Malarek explains that even in the situation where police raids find the sex slaves, they are still more trouble to come. He explains that the women are usually deported back to their home country and that they are re-victimized by the system.

Another girl, Tania, a former sex slave is interviewed. Frontline tells us that her family lives next to Chernobyl, and the family has several health problems. In despair and increasing health costs, Tania is contemplating to be a slave all over again.

Katia is eventually reunited with Viro. It appears that Maria and Apo simply released because she was too much trouble.

Vlad is arrested but his sentence is laughable. He is sentenced to five years in prison with five years probation.

Viro and Katia say they were told that Vlad would receive at minimu fifteen years in prison.

In another troubled twist, Katia isn't even notified to testify against Vlad.

Esther Bienstock tells viewers that prosecution is abysmal and that system is ineffective against sex trafficking.

We get a couple of updates to the story. Tania's little brother died, and she herself after joining the sex trade was deported.

Frontline reported Olga to the Moldovian authorities, but they did nothing.


Share this article with your friends