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| Major raids on human trafficking | Major raids on human trafficking |
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| A flat has been searched in Newry and a man arrested as part of a major operation against human trafficking. | A flat has been searched in Newry and a man arrested as part of a major operation against human trafficking. |
| Members of the PSNI, An Garda Siochana and police in Wales have been carrying out raids. | Members of the PSNI, An Garda Siochana and police in Wales have been carrying out raids. |
| A 47-year-old Irish man and a 31-year-old South African woman were arrested in Pembrokeshire, Wales. | A 47-year-old Irish man and a 31-year-old South African woman were arrested in Pembrokeshire, Wales. |
| In the Republic of Ireland four men and two women were arrested on on suspicion of organising and managing prostitution. | In the Republic of Ireland four men and two women were arrested on on suspicion of organising and managing prostitution. |
| The PSNI said the operation began last year as a result of inquiries being made during Operation Pentameter 2 into human trafficking. | The PSNI said the operation began last year as a result of inquiries being made during Operation Pentameter 2 into human trafficking. |
| The man arrested in Newry is being detained on suspicion of immigration offences. | The man arrested in Newry is being detained on suspicion of immigration offences. |
| Since then, a number of covert inquiries have been conducted by police at several locations in Northern Ireland being used as brothels by an organised crime gang through the internet. | Since then, a number of covert inquiries have been conducted by police at several locations in Northern Ireland being used as brothels by an organised crime gang through the internet. |
| The PSNI said it believed "it has identified at least eight women who were trafficked into Ireland (north and south) and then forced into prostitution". | |
| Seven of these victims were rescued from brothels, four by direct police action. | Seven of these victims were rescued from brothels, four by direct police action. |
| Police said the women were vulnerable and had been "trafficked mostly from non-EU countries". | Police said the women were vulnerable and had been "trafficked mostly from non-EU countries". |
| Victims | Victims |
| Detective Chief Superintendent Essie Adair, head of the PSNI's organised crime squad, said there had even been activity in South Africa in relation to the operation. | |
| "This cross-border, inter-continental element has been brought about because we believe this gang was using mobile phones and the internet to run its operations which involved human trafficking, controlling prostitution and money laundering," he said. | "This cross-border, inter-continental element has been brought about because we believe this gang was using mobile phones and the internet to run its operations which involved human trafficking, controlling prostitution and money laundering," he said. |
| "This was a victim-centred operation where the highest priority has been given to the identification and rescue of any suspected victims of human trafficking. | "This was a victim-centred operation where the highest priority has been given to the identification and rescue of any suspected victims of human trafficking. |
| "This has been followed by the investigation of any criminal offences identified." | "This has been followed by the investigation of any criminal offences identified." |
| He said officers from each agency were involved in the various search and arrest operations carried out on Wednesday in the various jurisdictions. | He said officers from each agency were involved in the various search and arrest operations carried out on Wednesday in the various jurisdictions. |
| "We believe we have dismantled an organised crime gang which was operating in three jurisdictions in Europe and has links to South Africa," he said. | "We believe we have dismantled an organised crime gang which was operating in three jurisdictions in Europe and has links to South Africa," he said. |
| "After months of covert activity, the investigation is starting to deliver results in terms of arrests and seizures." | "After months of covert activity, the investigation is starting to deliver results in terms of arrests and seizures." |
| Police believe the gang has been using a range of sophisticated methods to launder the considerable proceeds of this criminality outside Ireland and the UK. | Police believe the gang has been using a range of sophisticated methods to launder the considerable proceeds of this criminality outside Ireland and the UK. |
| They will now be trying to identify all assets suspected to be the proceeds of crime with a view to subsequent confiscation proceedings. | They will now be trying to identify all assets suspected to be the proceeds of crime with a view to subsequent confiscation proceedings. |