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Nine people have been arrested in England and Spain on suspicion of human trafficking offences connected to an escort agency.<\/p>\n
West Midlands Police worked with Spanish officers and the National Crime Agency to carry out the arrests.<\/p>\n
It is alleged heads of an organised crime group trafficked women within the UK and forced them into sex work.<\/p>\n
Det Con Steve Oldbury said the group was believed to have “netted thousands of pounds a week”.<\/p>\n
In Madrid, police arrested a man and a woman, both 43, while British officers executed warrants across the West Midlands and south of England.<\/p>\n
A 68-year-old man was arrested in Kent and a 50-year-old man in Tamworth.<\/p>\n
Three men, aged 28, 29 and 55, were arrested in Sandwell and two men, 41 and 46, in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
All were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to control prostitution, conspiracy to traffic within the UK for sexual exploitation and money laundering offences.<\/p>\n
They remain in custody for questioning, with extradition proceedings under way for the pair arrested in Spain.<\/p>\n
Det Con Oldbury said: “We believe the group has netted thousands of pounds a week with funds regularly and illegally transferred out of the country.<\/p>\n
“At the heart of this criminality is the women who are alleged to have been coerced and intimidated into performing sexual services. Their welfare is of the utmost concern.”<\/p>\n
Neil Keeping, National Crime Agency Regional Manager for Spain, said organised crime groups sexually exploited victims both in the UK and overseas.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictims are often seeking a better life, but are instead forced into the sex industry where they are controlled and exploited by offenders who treat them as commodities in the pursuit of profit.”<\/p>\n
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