Seven Slavery and Prostitution Gang Members Hit with Heavy Charges
Seven suspects linked to a major human trafficking and exploitation ring in London have been charged with multiple serious offences. The crackdown follows a major police operation targeting modern slavery and criminal property.
Details of the Charges
Jie Zhang, 40, from Fountain Park Way, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Qitao Xu, 31, of Bullrush Grove, Hillingdon, face a staggering 13 charges each. These include:
- Possession of criminal property
- Three counts of conspiracy to hold someone in slavery
- Conspiracy to use, acquire, or possess criminal property
- Conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property
- Two counts of other offences linked to human trafficking
- Two counts of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain
- Three counts of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel for exploitation within the UK
Yuhua Zheng, 68, also from Fountain Park Way, faces 11 charges, including conspiracy to hold others in slavery and multiple property-related conspiracies.
Giulia Manzo, 30, of Brewster Gardens, Kensington and Chelsea, has been hit with eight charges. Wenjing Nong, 32, from Tyndall Road, Waltham Forest, faces seven offences. Meanwhile, Zeev Zi-Pear, 62, of Woodstock Road, Barnet, is charged with 10 serious offences connected to slavery and exploitation.
Operation Huai: Police Strike Back
The charges come after Operation Huai saw detectives execute warrants at seven London addresses on 22 April 2020. The suspects were formally charged via postal requisition on 6 April and are due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 10 May.
This case shines a light on the persistent and brutal reality of modern slavery and human trafficking in the capital. Police vow to keep cracking down on those who exploit vulnerable people for profit.
