Brothels raided in cross-border investigation into sex trade

THE raids began early yesterday morning. Nine brothels in the Republic, along with a number of premises in the North were raided as part of a cross-border investigation into the smuggling of women from Brazil, Nigeria and Namibia who were being used as prostitutes.

Bob Lauder, regional director of the North’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), said the arrests sent out a stark warning to criminals involved in the sex trade.

“We will find you and we will stop you,” he said.

Brothels were raided in Cavan, Drogheda, Athlone, Mullingar, Sligo, Kilkenny, Enniscorthy, Newbridge and Waterford.

Another six locations were searched in Carlow where seven people were arrested on suspicion of organising and managing prostitution.

Of these seven, the four women range in age from the mid-20s to early 50s, while the three men are in their early 20s and early 30s.

Among those arrested in the raids is the ex-wife, son and daughter of the mastermind of the operation.

That 47-year-old was netted with his new South African wife by SOCA officers in Wales.

Items were taken away for forensic examination from the properties, while separate searches were also carried out by the PSNI in Newry, resulting in the arrest of one man.

Mr Lauder said people traffickers working across international borders could no longer consider themselves unassailable as police forces come together to tighten the net.

“Joint working with the PSNI, An Garda Siochána, Dyfed Powys Police and UK Border Agency have resulted in these arrests,” he said.

“I want to thank all our partners who were intrinsic to the success of this operation.”

Senior police officers in the operation believe they have disrupted and dismantled an organised crime gang which used the internet and mobile phones to control its trade in women into Britain and Ireland.

The investigation began last year as a result of inquiries being made during Operation Pentameter 2, which then led to several undercover inquiries.

Detective Chief Superintendent Essie Adair, the PSNI’s organised crime branch chief, said the gang were also using a range of sophisticated methods to launder “considerable proceeds” of their criminality outside Ireland and Britain.

“We believe we have dismantled an organised crime gang which was operating in three jurisdictions in Europe and has links to South Africa,” he said.

“This cross-border, intercontinental element has been brought about because we believe this gang was using mobile phones and the internet to run its operations which involved human trafficking, controlling prostitution and money laundering.”

The senior police chief also revealed that officers from each agency and force were involved in all the search and arrest operations.

Northern Ireland Security Minister Paul Goggins said the various agencies involved would continue to work together to bring criminals before the courts.

“Human trafficking is a serious crime which destroys lives and we will continue to work together to bring those involved in this heinous activity before the courts,” he said.