Cross-border effort dismantles Romanian trafficking gang in Glasgow

Police Scotland, in conjunction with Europol and DIICOT – Romania’s counter-mafia police – raided properties in Glasgow.

Europol’s experts, as well as the Romanian police and a prosecutor, were deployed in Scotland as part of the joint team.

A joint day of action by Police Scotland on 8 April resulted in four house searches, the arrest of one suspect and the referral to the procurator fiscal of a number of others suspects and the safeguarding of eight potential victims of trafficking. During this action day, cash, mobile phones and other valuable items were also seized from the suspects.

Europol said: “As a result of joint operational activities carried last week, Police Scotland and Romanian National Police and DIICOT, supported by Europol and Eurojust, have dismantled a Romanian organised criminal network involved in trafficking of Romanian victims, exploited in the sex market in Scotland.

“Supported on-the-spot by Europol experts, the operation was preceded by extensive and complex investigations coordinated by Europol and Eurojust.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “As part of an ongoing investigation into Human Trafficking and Serious and Organised Crime, Police Scotland, supported by a number of partner organisations visited four properties in the Glasgow area on Friday 8 April 2016.

“A 29-year-old male has been arrested and detained in custody in connection with Brothel Keeping and Serious and Organised Crime.

“A 35-year-old male will be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.”