The police raids in East London against the alleged sex trafficking ring resulted in the arrest of 17 suspects, believed to be Romanian and aged from 17 to 50. Two of them were on the European wanted list. Three women and 14 men are suspected of committing a range of offences, including modern slavery, organising prostitution, as well as Class A drug and firearm violations, LBC News reports.
Breaking: 15 people have been arrested in dawn raids by police in East London targeting a Romanian gang suspected of trafficking women into the UK and forcing them to work as prostitutes.
— Rachael Venables (@rachaelvenables) November 14, 2019
29 potential victims have been found, and are now being supported by police. @LBC pic.twitter.com/df8VyLBttz
The Police, who stormed 16 homes, not only retrieved drugs, cash, and stun guns, but also discovered 29 women who are believed to be the victims of the ring. The suspected victims, aged between 20 and 40, are thought to be Romanian as well.
According to DCI Richard McDonagh from the Vulnerability Investigations Team, “the primary focus here is to protect the women”.
“In this type of investigation exploitation can occur over a longer-term period and that’s why it’s really important to encourage victims to leave the venue and come away to a reception centre so we can address some of their needs”, he said.
While the British police raided houses in East London, their Romanian colleagues stormed properties in Constanta, arresting one.
The houses were raided as part of Operation Kelang, which is being conducted by the Metropolitan Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as their colleagues from Romania, the country’s embassy in the UK, Europol, and Eurojust.
“Today's operation is another example of our excellent bilateral cooperation. The operation was organised simultaneously in both countries in perfect coordination”, the Romanian Police attaché told LBC News.
