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Arrests in sex trafficking probe Arrests in sex trafficking probe
(about 3 hours later)
Eight people have been arrested and 10 sex workers taken into protective custody after a series of police raids on brothels in Devon and Cornwall. Nine people have been arrested after a series of raids on 10 brothels in Devon and Cornwall.
Officers raided 10 premises over a week as part of Operation Pentameter - a national operation aimed at targeting people trafficking. The seven women and two men were arrested on suspicion of offences in connection with running a brothel.
The 10 sex workers were all foreign nationals, some of them from Thailand, China and Korea. The week of raids was part of Operation Pentameter - a national operation aimed at targeting people trafficking.
Those arrested were all held in connection with running brothels. Twelve sex workers, all foreign nationals, were taken into protective custody but told officers they had not been working against their will.
The sex workers were from England, Korea, China, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Thailand.
Police raided addresses in St Austell, Truro, the Torbay area, Plymouth, Whimple and Exeter.
More than £12,00 in cash was also seized.
The first Operation Pentameter in 2006 freed 84 women and teenage girls from brothels and massage parlours and led to 232 arrests.The first Operation Pentameter in 2006 freed 84 women and teenage girls from brothels and massage parlours and led to 232 arrests.
It also led to the creation of the Human Trafficking Centre, aimed at stopping the trade and supporting victims.It also led to the creation of the Human Trafficking Centre, aimed at stopping the trade and supporting victims.