An international sex trafficking ring in Europe has been taken down after raids by five European authorities.
The ring – run from China – was described as the biggest in Europe.
Law enforcement agency Europol said:
“An unprecedented operation has resulted in the dismantling of an international sex-trafficking ring that held hundreds of Chinese women trapped in debt bondage across Europe.
“More than 200 victims have been identified after being trafficked into a conveyor belt of sexual exploitation.”
Europol believes the numbers of women could run to many hundreds more.
Twenty-eight people have been arrested and 34 houses have been searched.
The officers came from Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.
Europol said: “Among those 27 arrested in Belgium five are Chinese nationals considered as high-value targets by Europol.
“This international sweep follows a complex investigation headed by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor.
“The inquiry uncovered how hundreds of Chinese women were forced into prostitution after being lured to Europe by the promise of a legitimate job.
“The perpetrators would use popular messaging apps in China to ensnare their victims.
“They would then smuggle them to Europe using forged EU ID documents and residence permits which were either falsified or obtained using falsified supporting documents.
“Once in Europe, the victims were held in bondage and forced to work as prostitutes to pay off debts.
“The criminals would advertise the women online and set them up in hotels across Europe, rotating their victims between EU countries.
“Over the course of the three year-long investigation, more than 3,000 online advertisements linked to this ring have been monitored by law enforcement.”
