A notorious offender, Ion Rudacan, also known as Ion Paun, has been apprehended after successfully entering the UK under a false identity, despite previously being jailed and deported for similar offences. The 36-year-old was involved in Operation Elba, a Greater Manchester Police operation targeting the trafficking of women for sex work in the north-west region.
Despite being previously convicted, Rudacan made persistent attempts to reenter the UK. He managed to enter illegally, using a false name, and evidence showed that he had rented a car in Brighton in July. However, his luck ran out as he was arrested by officers from Sussex Police’s Tactical Firearms Unit during a proactive vehicle check on Marine Parade, Brighton, on September 4.
Rudacan faced multiple charges and was subsequently remanded in custody. On October 10, at Lewes Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, breaching a Deportation Order, three additional attempted breaches of the Deportation Order, and seeking entry to or remaining in the UK through deceptive means. As a result, Rudacan, who is currently of no fixed address, has been sentenced to six years in prison.
The court heard that Rudacan, a Romanian national, was previously convicted as part of Operation Elba for controlling prostitution for profit and human trafficking offenses in the Manchester area. In November 2021, he was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, along with a Deportation Order. Rudacan was subsequently deported on January 27, 2022.
Moreover, he had also been subjected to a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order for ten years, which imposed restrictions on his ability to own, lease, or possess a vehicle in the UK without informing the police, as well as limiting his access to devices like mobile phones.
It has come to light that Rudacan attempted to enter the UK using a false EU Settlement application. He had been removed from the UK on October 5, 2022, and June 26, 2023, from Stansted Airport, and on October 14, 2022, from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Sussex Police’s Tactical Firearms Unit intercepted Rudacan’s vehicle in the early hours of September 4 on Marine Parade, Brighton. Inspector Oliver Fisher praised the proactive stop, which brought Rudacan’s offences to light, emphasising the unit’s commitment to disrupting criminals involved in trafficking and modern slavery.
Detective Inspector Tony Platten, Greater Manchester Police’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Lead, expressed disappointment at Rudacan’s blatant disregard for the orders imposed on him after serving a custodial sentence. He highlighted the coordinated efforts across multiple force areas to locate, arrest, and prosecute Rudacan, underscoring the importance of these orders in reducing the risk of further harm.
Tony Hilton, Assistant Director for the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigation unit, commended the relentless pursuit and eventual capture of Rudacan, emphasising the dedication of police and immigration officers in dismantling people-trafficking operations. Hilton reaffirmed the commitment to work closely with policing partners to protect borders and save lives by investigating and dismantling such criminal enterprises.
