A 37-year-old Albanian woman, identified as Mariela M., is suspected of playing a key role in organizing a prostitution ring in the French capital, Paris. Investigations by French authorities have uncovered a suspected scheme to collect prostitution proceeds and transfer them to Albania and Belgium.
According to the French newspaper "Le Parisien", the Albanian has been in custody since February 21, 2026, on charges of aggravated tutoring, human trafficking and money laundering within a structured criminal group.
The network is suspected of operating between 2023 and 2026 in the Porte de Vincennes area of Paris. The investigation began after a Romanian woman testified that she was forced to hand over part of her profits to two women, including the 37-year-old Albanian woman.
According to investigators, Mariela M. had an organizational role in the field, overseeing the women's activities and collecting a portion of the proceeds. Phone taps and police surveillance have raised suspicions that she also coordinated the movement of vehicles used for meetings with clients.
The investigation file also mentions two Albanian brothers, identified by the initials Z., who are suspected of directing the activity from Albania. One of them, according to French authorities, continued to give instructions from prison.
Financial investigations have uncovered money transfers outside of France, while in Belgium it is suspected that an intermediary known by the nickname "Claudi" was operating, who was involved in collecting the proceeds.
By tracing transactions, authorities have estimated around 128,000 euros linked to the 37-year-old's activities. She herself has stated that she earned between 1,000 and 2,000 euros per week from practicing prostitution.
Mariela M. was arrested on February 17, 2026, along with two other women, at a hotel in Pantin, near Paris. During the searches, police seized around 9,000 euros in cash.
Before the authorities, the Albanian woman admitted that she practiced prostitution, but denied that she ran the network or that she collected and transferred other women's money.
Her lawyer has requested release under judicial control, while the French prosecution has opposed the request, arguing that there is a risk of her returning to the alleged criminal activity.
Investigations continue to fully identify the people involved and uncover the route of the money, while the 37-year-old remains innocent until a final judicial decision.
