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| Four arrests and six rescued in Belfast human trafficking probe | Four arrests and six rescued in Belfast human trafficking probe |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Four people have been arrested in Belfast in a police investigation into a human trafficking and vice ring. | Four people have been arrested in Belfast in a police investigation into a human trafficking and vice ring. |
| Police said six suspected trafficking victims had been rescued in recent weeks due to their enquiries. | Police said six suspected trafficking victims had been rescued in recent weeks due to their enquiries. |
| The investigation has been running for three months and while centred in Belfast, stretched across Europe. | The investigation has been running for three months and while centred in Belfast, stretched across Europe. |
| The four arrests on Wednesday were made in west Belfast. Three of the suspects are eastern European and the other is from Northern Ireland. | The four arrests on Wednesday were made in west Belfast. Three of the suspects are eastern European and the other is from Northern Ireland. |
| All the alleged victims are eastern European. | All the alleged victims are eastern European. |
| Two men, aged 22 and 29, were arrested in apartments in King Street and a 24-year-old man and 22-year-old woman in Cavendish Street, off the Falls Road. | Two men, aged 22 and 29, were arrested in apartments in King Street and a 24-year-old man and 22-year-old woman in Cavendish Street, off the Falls Road. |
| Two women were rescued on Wednesday from the apartment block in King Street and a property in College Place North. | |
| The two victims rescued on Wednesday are being given specialist support at Garnerville police base and offered the services provided by the UK Human Trafficking Centre. | The two victims rescued on Wednesday are being given specialist support at Garnerville police base and offered the services provided by the UK Human Trafficking Centre. |
| Both women are in their 20s. The previous four victims were also cared for in this way. | Both women are in their 20s. The previous four victims were also cared for in this way. |
| The officer leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Douglas Grant, said: "We have been investigating a trafficking and prostitution ring stretching across Europe for the past three months. | The officer leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Douglas Grant, said: "We have been investigating a trafficking and prostitution ring stretching across Europe for the past three months. |
| "Police have an ongoing commitment to rescue victims of human trafficking, who in this case we believe were being used for the vice trade. | "Police have an ongoing commitment to rescue victims of human trafficking, who in this case we believe were being used for the vice trade. |
| "And we have an equally strong commitment to dismantle the organised crime gangs involved. Today's arrest and rescue operation is the latest stage in this ongoing, proactive investigation. | "And we have an equally strong commitment to dismantle the organised crime gangs involved. Today's arrest and rescue operation is the latest stage in this ongoing, proactive investigation. |
| "Our enquiries will continue over the coming weeks and will involve other law enforcement agencies across Europe." | "Our enquiries will continue over the coming weeks and will involve other law enforcement agencies across Europe." |
| Two years ago 25 victims of human trafficking were rescued in NI; last year 23 victims were rescued; in the first five months of this year, 23 victims have been rescued. | Two years ago 25 victims of human trafficking were rescued in NI; last year 23 victims were rescued; in the first five months of this year, 23 victims have been rescued. |