Influencer Arrested in Brussels Human Trafficking Ring

A 33-year-old Peruvian influencer and model has been arrested in Lima by Interpol agents on charges of leading a human trafficking ring that lured vulnerable women from South America to Belgium, where they were forced into sex work in Brussels’ red light district. Nadeska Widausky, a social media personality with 24,000 Instagram followers, was taken into custody on May 26 after an intelligence operation tracked her down in the Peruvian capital, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

The Arrest and Charges

Widausky was captured while walking in sportswear on a street in Lima by Interpol agents acting on a Belgian arrest warrant issued by a court in Bruges, West Flanders. A Peruvian court has since ordered nine months of pre-trial detention pending extradition to Belgium, a decision her lawyer has announced he will appeal.

She faces charges of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, procuring, membership in a criminal organization, and theft with violence or threats. If convicted in Belgium, she could face up to 20 years in prison. The Bruges Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to HLN that a procedure has been initiated to request her extradition.

A Sophisticated Exploitation Network

According to the judicial file accessed by El Comercio’s Investigation Unit and reported by Infobae, the criminal organization was allegedly led by Junior Polo García, who controlled victim recruitment in Peru, money flow management, and the administration of profiles on European digital platforms.

Widausky and another Peruvian woman, Celeste Lozano Sullón, are accused of handling operational recruitment and prostitution activities. The network specifically targeted young, vulnerable women from Peru’s Amazon region, primarily from San Martín and Tarapoto, luring them with false promises of work and a better future in Europe.

“Once in Belgium, they were taken to the red light district of Brussels, where they were forced under threat to work in prostitution and hand over their earnings,” the judicial file states, as cited by Infobae.

Modus Operandi and Evidence

The network employed multiple methods of control. Fake profiles were created with victims’ photographs on the Redlights platform to attract clients and for extortion purposes. Widausky used at least three different aliases—Gallo Widausky, Nedaska, and Bernar Galilea—to evade detection, which is why Interpol issued a Red Notice under all three identities.

Financial evidence linking Widausky to the network includes a suspicious bank transfer of 1,385 euros from Lozano to Widausky. Investigators also linked two Brussels phone numbers to her—one registered in her name and another tied to her Gmail account.

Widausky’s Background and Denials

In Peru, Widausky is a well-known public figure who appears on tabloid television programs and posts a glamorous, luxurious lifestyle on Instagram and TikTok. She previously won a defamation lawsuit against prominent Peruvian journalist Magaly Medina.

Her history includes surviving an assassination attempt in 2015, after which she became a key witness in a notorious murder case in Peru’s drug trafficking underworld. She is also under investigation in Peru for money laundering related to unexplained wealth, with assets worth approximately $250,000 recently seized.

Widausky has vehemently denied the charges. “I blame everything on that scammer Jefferson Rubiños Olaya, who made a false report against me,” she told press after her arrest, as reported by HLN. “He caused all this just to get his wife residency in Belgium. I deny everything. I’m going to file a countersuit.”

Her defense lawyer, Julio Gago, maintains her innocence, attributing the accusations to a family dispute over a loan.

Broader Implications

The case highlights the growing use of social media as a recruitment tool by human trafficking networks targeting South America. Belgium is primarily a destination country for trafficking victims, with sexual exploitation being the most commonly identified form. The Brussels red light district is a known hub for both legal and illegal sex work.

The investigation, which began with coordination between Belgian and Peruvian authorities in January 2026, demonstrates effective cross-border law enforcement cooperation. Colonel Víctor Rolando Morales, head of the Division of Intelligence against Transnational Crime of the Peruvian National Police, confirmed that the investigation originated in Belgium.

What’s Next

The extradition process could take weeks to months, depending on judicial decisions and the level of bilateral cooperation between Peru and Belgium. Widausky has been transferred to the Chorrillos maximum-security prison in Lima while she awaits the outcome of her appeal against the pre-trial detention order. Her case also raises questions about whether other members of the network remain at large and what role digital platforms like Redlights play in facilitating exploitation.