More than a dozen people were arrested in London and Romania on Wednesday May 18 as part of an investigation into a criminal group suspected of bringing women to the UK for the purpose of sexual exploitation, a announced the London police.
Read alsoHuman trafficking, this evil that continues to spread
British investigators, in partnership with the Romanian National Police and the Eurojust judicial cooperation agency, arrested nine men and five women on Wednesday morning, in an operation targeting an organized criminal group.
This group is suspected of human smuggling from Romania to the UK behind an alleged escort business in London.
Investigators believe that the profits of this company were then laundered by British banks before being paid into Romanian accounts for the benefit of high-ranking members of the criminal group.
In London, investigators arrested two men and four women, aged between 25 and 39, and seized a samurai sword, drugs, cash and high-value property during searches in the neighborhoods of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Camden.
In addition, two women, both of Romanian nationality, were found inside the raided accommodation and will receive support and medical care.
Read alsoHuman trafficking has grown thanks to the pandemic, laments Washington
In Romania, seven men and one woman were arrested.
The Romanian National Police seized four cars, worth approximately 250,000 euros, and requested the seizure of assets totaling 1 million euros.
"
Unfortunately, this kind of exploitation still happens in London
," London Police Detective Inspector Jim Madden said in a statement.
“
As seen in this case, we are working closely with national and international partners to share intelligence and identify and arrest criminals who profit from the exploitation of vulnerable people
,” he added.
