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Ex- policeman trafficking suspect Ex-officer charged on trafficking
(about 4 hours later)
A former police officer is one of the people being questioned about a prostitution ring being run by a Chinese mafia gang. A former police officer has been charged with two counts of people trafficking and two of controlling prostitution.
The 39-year-old man was arrested as part of a police operation against human trafficking. The 39-year-old was arrested on Thursday as part of a police operation targeting a prostitution ring controlled by a Chinese crime gang.
Six women were rescued from brothels in Belfast and Derry. Six women were rescued from brothels in Belfast and Londonderry.
The move was part of Operation Sleek, a major police drive against the prostitution ring controlled by the Chinese gang. Two other people who were arrested - a 40-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man - are still being questioned.
Three people who were arrested, one in Northern Ireland and two in England, are being questioned at the serious crime suite in Antrim. It is believed the former officer, who was arrested in Belfast, left the PSNI a number of years ago.
One of them, a 39-year-old man arrested in Belfast, is a former police officer. It is believed he left the PSNI a number of years ago.
Police said the women who were rescued were tricked into coming to Northern Ireland and then forced to work as prostitutes.Police said the women who were rescued were tricked into coming to Northern Ireland and then forced to work as prostitutes.
They are being cared for by specialist officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which hopes they will agree to give evidence against alleged gang members.They are being cared for by specialist officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which hopes they will agree to give evidence against alleged gang members.
The Chinese Welfare Association has praised the police operation and urged anyone with information about human trafficking to come forward.The Chinese Welfare Association has praised the police operation and urged anyone with information about human trafficking to come forward.