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Two men to appear in court over Northern Ireland 'trafficking ring' Two men to appear in court over Northern Ireland 'trafficking ring'
(about 4 hours later)
Two men will appear in a Northern Ireland court later on Tuesday charged with human trafficking offences, labour exploitation and being unlicensed gangmasters.Two men will appear in a Northern Ireland court later on Tuesday charged with human trafficking offences, labour exploitation and being unlicensed gangmasters.
The pair were arrested after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed on Monday night its officers had rescued 20 people from an alleged trafficking ring operating in the region. The pair were arrested after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed on Monday night that its officers had rescued 20 people from an alleged trafficking ring operating in the region.
The men, who are 23 and 31, have been charged with 12 human trafficking offences, 12 forced labour offences and acting as unlicensed gangmasters.The men, who are 23 and 31, have been charged with 12 human trafficking offences, 12 forced labour offences and acting as unlicensed gangmasters.
One of the men has also been charged with money-laundering offences. One of the men has also been charged with money-laundering offences. Both are due to appear in Lisburn magistrates court on Tuesday.
Both are due to appear in Lisburn magistrates court on Tuesday.
Their arrests are connected to the freeing of 20 Romanians from two different locations in Co Armagh over the past week.Their arrests are connected to the freeing of 20 Romanians from two different locations in Co Armagh over the past week.
DI Todd Clements from the PSNI's organised crime branch said: "This has been a fast-moving and complex operation which may continue for some time. Det Insp Todd Clements from the organised crime branch said: "This has been a fast-moving and complex operation which may continue for some time. The 20 people we have identified as potential victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation are in places of safety now. Our inquiries are continuing."
"The 20 people we have identified as potential victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation are in places of safety now. Our inquiries are continuing."
Police added that they had liaised with the UK Human Trafficking Centre and other agencies to make sure the 20 potential victims were safe.Police added that they had liaised with the UK Human Trafficking Centre and other agencies to make sure the 20 potential victims were safe.
The PSNI statement said: "Additional translators have been flown to Northern Ireland from England to cope with the number of victims involved and the volume of information which needs to be processed."The PSNI statement said: "Additional translators have been flown to Northern Ireland from England to cope with the number of victims involved and the volume of information which needs to be processed."
The devolved justice minister David Ford warned earlier this year in an interview with the Guardian that the majority of those illegally trafficked into Northern Ireland were probably being exploited as low-paid, illegal labour in industries such as catering and agriculture. The Northern Ireland justice minister, David Ford, warned earlier this year in an interview with the Guardian that the majority of those illegally trafficked into Northern Ireland were probably being exploited as low-paid, illegal labour in industries such as catering and agriculture.
Graphic TV advertisements are being broadcast on Northern Ireland commercial television from the Home Office detailing exploitation in the sex industry, agriculture and domestic slavery.Graphic TV advertisements are being broadcast on Northern Ireland commercial television from the Home Office detailing exploitation in the sex industry, agriculture and domestic slavery.
The Human Trafficking Foundation charity estimates 20,000 people are working in slavery in the UK, and that number is rising.The Human Trafficking Foundation charity estimates 20,000 people are working in slavery in the UK, and that number is rising.