20/06/2018

Five Potential Victims Of Human Trafficking Rescued

Five potential victims of human trafficking have been rescued by the police following operations across Belfast.

Two women, aged 36 and 24, have been arrested on a number of offences including human trafficking, controlling prostitution for gain, and brothel keeping, and are assisting with enquiries.

The 36-year-old woman was detained by detectives from the PSNI's Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit in the Glenbrook Avenue area and the 24-year-old woman was arrested in the Dongegal Avenue area.

The arrests are part of an extensive investigation into an organised criminal gang with eastern European links.

The searches were carried out at properties in east, south and west Belfast on Wednesday, 20 June.

The PSNI were assisted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Home Office.

Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.

(CD/MH)

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