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19/08/2014
Men Charged After 20 Trafficking Victims Rescued
Two men have been charged by detectives investigating labour exploitation after 20 people thought to have been victims of human trafficking were rescued in a major police operation.
Detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch arrested three men as part of the operation, which has been running for several days.
The victims, all of whom are Romanian, total 14 men and six woman and range in age from 20 to 48. They were rescued at various stages since last Wednesday 13 August at two locations in County Armagh.
Police have liaised with the UK Human Trafficking Centre and a number of agencies. Additional translators have been flown to Northern Ireland from England to cope with the number of victims involved and the volume of information that needs to be processed.
The charges follow the arrest of three suspects, aged 23, 27 and 31. They were arrested in counties Armagh and Antrim during the course of the investigation and questioned at the Serious Crime Suite at Antrim police station on suspicion of human trafficking, forced labour and slavery and money laundering. Two properties were searched and three vehicles seized.
Two of the men, aged 23 and 31, have been charged.
Detective Inspector Todd Clements from Organised Crime Branch said: "This has been a fast-moving and complex operation which may continue for some time. The 20 people we have identified as potential victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation are in places of safety now. Our inquiries are continuing."
(IT/CD)
Detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch arrested three men as part of the operation, which has been running for several days.
The victims, all of whom are Romanian, total 14 men and six woman and range in age from 20 to 48. They were rescued at various stages since last Wednesday 13 August at two locations in County Armagh.
Police have liaised with the UK Human Trafficking Centre and a number of agencies. Additional translators have been flown to Northern Ireland from England to cope with the number of victims involved and the volume of information that needs to be processed.
The charges follow the arrest of three suspects, aged 23, 27 and 31. They were arrested in counties Armagh and Antrim during the course of the investigation and questioned at the Serious Crime Suite at Antrim police station on suspicion of human trafficking, forced labour and slavery and money laundering. Two properties were searched and three vehicles seized.
Two of the men, aged 23 and 31, have been charged.
Detective Inspector Todd Clements from Organised Crime Branch said: "This has been a fast-moving and complex operation which may continue for some time. The 20 people we have identified as potential victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation are in places of safety now. Our inquiries are continuing."
(IT/CD)
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