Police Crack Down on Online Brothels in Major Bust
Officers launched a crackdown in early September after spotting adverts for sexual services online. What started with a warrant in Blackburn snowballed into multiple raids across the country.
Raids Span from Blackburn to London
Initial searches in Blackburn uncovered enough evidence to trigger further raids in Accrington, St Helens, Hertfordshire, and London. Several victims were rescued, and mobile phones seized for vital clues.
Accrington Man Charged with Controlling Prostitution
On Tuesday, 47-year-old Hongli Yi of Whalley Road, Accrington, was arrested on suspicion of running a brothel. After consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, he was charged with controlling prostitution. Yi appeared at Blackburn magistrates’ court yesterday and was remanded in custody.
Multiple Others Also Face Serious Charges
Several others have been charged with human trafficking and controlling prostitution, including:
- Wanchun Zang – no fixed address
- Xinghai Zhou – Etchingham Road
- Yi Chen Cheng – no fixed address
- Shi Guang Zhong – St Bees Close, St Helens
- Philip Kee – Haseldine Road, London Colney, St Albans, Hertfordshire
- Li Neng Leong – Haseldine Road, London Colney, St Albans, Hertfordshire
The investigation is ongoing as police continue to unravel this nationwide web of crime.
