[S]ix men and a woman have been charged with human trafficking offences after a string of raids across four counties.
On Wednesday 29th November warrants were executed in Lancashire, Manchester, Northampton and Luton.
The searches were part of an investigation into the trafficking and sexual exploitation of a large number of Romanian women.
Property seized from the addresses has ranged from items linked to the sex trade, cash and firearms. Six women have been removed from the addresses and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Over the last two days seven suspects have been interviewed at length by the Human Trafficking Team and tonight have all been charged with conspiring to traffic, conspiring to cause prostitution and firearm offences.
- Ionel Sandu, 32, of Carlton Road, Blackburn, is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and causing or inciting prostitution.
- Andrei Carabet, 27, of Manchester Road, Preston, is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and causing or inciting prostitution.
- Catalin Mihailescu, 43, of Wadeson Road, Manchester, is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and causing or inciting prostitution.
- Mihai Nicolescu, 33, of Freehold Street, Northampton, is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and causing or inciting prostitution.
- Florin Rusescu, 44, of High Town Road, Luton, is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, causing or inciting prostitution and possession of a weapon for discharge of noxious liquid/gas/electrical incapacitation.
- Valentin Poiana, 40, of Orchard Street, Manchester, is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and causing or inciting prostitution.
- Maria Badulescu, 33, of High Town Road, Luton, is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and causing or inciting prostitution.
They will all appear at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court this morning.
