Brothels in Armagh, Newry and Dungannon were among 27 raided across Northern Ireland today. Two people have been arrested – a 63-year-old man in Pomeroy and a 47-year-old woman in Newry. Both were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, controlling prostitution, brothel keeping and money laundering.
Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit, supported by over 150 officers from across the organisation as well as Criminal Justice partners, carried out the significant operation into an organised crime group, which has been trafficking people throughout Northern Ireland for sexual exploitation.
Many of the victims involved are originally from Brazil, and have been exploited in over 27 brothels located in Newry, Armagh, Dungannon, Omagh, Cookstown, Derry/Londonderry, Coleraine, Belfast, Aughnacloy, Ballymena and Portrush.