Sixteen people involved in the operation of “pop-up” brothels in Dorset have been arrested in connection with human trafficking offences.

The sixteen people have been detained in Romania following a joint agency operation involving Zephyr, the South West Regional Organised Unit Crime Unit. (ROCU)

The Zephyr operation began in the UK, when investigations were launched in to a serious crime group suspected to be involved in human trafficking offences.

The group operated “pop-up” brothels across the south west, including in Dorset.

Early morning raids were this week carried out in Ploiesti in the county of Prahava, targeting a Romanian-based organised crime group, which was involved in the trafficking of people in to the UK for purpose of sexual exploitation.

The action followed a co-ordinated and joint investigation from Eurojust and involving Zephyr and the Ploiesti Brigade, a group that counters organised crime, in to offences believed to have been committed during 2015 and 2016.

Eighteen search warrants have been executed during the operation in the city of Ploesti, about 30km north of Bucharest.

Thirteen men, aged between 24 and 36-years-old and three women aged between 24 and 27-year-old were detained following the joint operation.

It also saw the seizure of cars, more than £9000 and 5500 Euros and more than 52kg of vegetable matter that appeared to be tobacco.

Mobile phones, forged IDs and financial and banking documents were also seized.

During the operation in Romania more than 40 potential victims of human trafficking were interviewed by investigators.

This week Zephyr detectives travelled to Romania to support the multiagency operation to detain crime group members responsible for offences in the UK.

DI Tony Hubbard, the senior investigating officer from Zephyr said: “We want this joint operation across international borders to send out a strong message to those involved in, or considering taking part in this illegal activity.

“We hope to dissuade vulnerable Romanian nationals from being drawn into the sex work industry.

“We have been working closely with partner agencies – the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Embassy in Bucharest, the National Crime Agency, UK Border Force, the Crown Prosecution Service, Europol plus the Romanian authorities to track down and pursue those involved in trafficking individuals for the purpose of sexual exploitation, wherever they operate from and when criminally active in the south west region.

“Not only will we seek to arrest suspects but we will then seek to confiscate their illegal earnings through the Proceeds of Crime Act.

“We also want landlords who provide short term accommodation to be vigilant and make sure their accommodation is not being used as a brothel, which is a criminal offence. Tell-tale signs are requests for paperless transactions, cash payments, multiple occupancy of premises or approaches for rentals/occupancy by two women and a sole man.

“Finally we would encourage any victims of trafficking to contact us. They can do this via the 101 number of anonymously via Crimestoppers (0800 555111)."

Kate Garbers, managing director of Unseen, the charity which supports survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking, said: “This is a fantastic outcome for the Zephyr, the SW regional organised crime unit, proving that collaboration to tackle this issue is imperative and works.

“Unseen supported police forces across the South West as they visited brothels to identify potentially trafficked people. We welcome this action and the commitment to partnership working.”