Eleven Nigerians have been arrested by the Police in southern Italian city of Catania for allegedly trafficking young women and girls from their country to Italy for exploitation as sex slaves, according to AP.

The news agency quoted Police Officer Antonio Salvago in the southern Italian city as saying on Monday that the victims underwent a voodoo rite to bind them to their debts after they promised to pay up to 40,000 euros ($43,000) for a journey they thought would bring them to a better life in Europe.

The rite made the victims, obey their smugglers and pimps, the Police officer added.

The victims, all under age 25 and some as young as 16, traveled through Libya before crossing the Mediterranean by boat with thousands of other migrants.

Source AP