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Three women charged after Irish prostitution raids | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Three women arrested as part of a cross-border police operation into organised prostitution, will appear in court in Belfast later. | |
The women, two aged 23 and one aged 27, have all been charged with brothel keeping and possession of criminal property. | |
Five people were arrested in Northern Ireland and three in the Republic of Ireland during a series of searches. | Five people were arrested in Northern Ireland and three in the Republic of Ireland during a series of searches. |
Three suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued. | |
The two other women arrested in Northern Ireland have been released on bail pending further enquiries. | |
The PSNI say they believe 10 out of 20 addresses they searched across Northern Ireland were being used as brothels. | The PSNI say they believe 10 out of 20 addresses they searched across Northern Ireland were being used as brothels. |
A large amount of documents, cash, mobile phones and computers were seized by the PSNI and gardai. | A large amount of documents, cash, mobile phones and computers were seized by the PSNI and gardai. |
The operation on Tuesday involved 170 police officers across Northern Ireland and more than 200 gardai, and had been planned for several weeks. | The operation on Tuesday involved 170 police officers across Northern Ireland and more than 200 gardai, and had been planned for several weeks. |
It is believed 114 properties were searched in the Republic. | |
PSNI Detective Superintendent Philip Marshall said this was only the start of the operation. | |
"The operation is continuing and there is the potential for more searches and more arrests in the days ahead," he said. | |
"This operation is focused on gathering information and intelligence and evidence on the extent of the problem of organised prostitution in Ireland. | |
"We then have an assessment and then we will target in the future what we suspect is a number of crime gangs who were involved in this particular crime type." | |
Det Supt Marshall said millions of pounds were being spent in the island of Ireland every year purchasing sexual services. | |
"There is a demand for those sexual services and organised criminals are feeding that demand. | |
"They are bringing vulnerable men and women into both parts of Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation. | |
"It is large-scale, it is organised and there are multi-million pound criminal profits being made. | |
Trafficking | Trafficking |
Detectives received support from women's help organisations who deal with rescued victims of trafficking, and representatives from the Garda were in the Belfast command room. | |
The three suspected victims were taken to police stations to be interviewed by specially-trained officers, and they will be offered counselling. | The three suspected victims were taken to police stations to be interviewed by specially-trained officers, and they will be offered counselling. |
The officer leading the PSNI's side of Operation Quest said the searches were carried out across all counties in Northern Ireland and policing regions in the Irish Republic. | The officer leading the PSNI's side of Operation Quest said the searches were carried out across all counties in Northern Ireland and policing regions in the Irish Republic. |
The investigation is being assisted by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, Europol and the UK Border Agency. | The investigation is being assisted by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, Europol and the UK Border Agency. |
In February, justice minister David Ford said the PSNI had identified 26 potential victims in Northern Ireland since April 2011. | In February, justice minister David Ford said the PSNI had identified 26 potential victims in Northern Ireland since April 2011. |
They came from countries including Ghana, Zimbabwe, China and Slovakia. | They came from countries including Ghana, Zimbabwe, China and Slovakia. |
The Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities has claimed that Northern Ireland has the fastest growing sex industry in any part of the UK. | The Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities has claimed that Northern Ireland has the fastest growing sex industry in any part of the UK. |