Four people have been arrested as part of a PSNI investigation into the suspected human trafficking of Romanian women for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
The arrests followed searches in Ballymena and Omagh on Tuesday by detectives from the PSNI’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit.
Detective Inspector Rachel Miskelly said: “Three men, aged 27, 31 and 52, and a 21-year-old woman were each arrested on suspicion of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, controlling prostitution for gain, brothel keeping and money laundering.
“All four remain in custody at this time.”
She added police believe an organised crime group “coaxed Romanian women to travel to Northern Ireland with the false promise of a better quality of life”.
“The shocking reality is that, upon arrival, the women have been forced into prostitution and exploited,” she said.
”From this operation we have, so far, identified and offered safeguarding to one female victim, but we believe there are others yet to be identified.”
