Major Bust: Nine Men and Five Women Nabbed in Human Trafficking Sting
The Met’s Specialist Crime Command teamed up with Romanian cops and Eurojust to smash a brutal human trafficking ring this week. On Wednesday, 18 May, they arrested nine men and five women linked to an organised crime group (OCG) accused of trafficking women from Romania to London. The gang allegedly ran a fake high-class escort service as a front for sexual exploitation.
Luxury Front, Dirty Money
The OCG reportedly raked in huge cash through this sham business. Profits were laundered via UK banks and funnelled back to Romanian bank accounts controlled by top gang members. The Met’s team executed six London raids, backed by the Taskforce and sniffer dogs, arresting two men and four women aged 25 to 39.
Weapons, Drugs, and High-Value Seizures
- Samurai sword confiscated
- Class A drugs seized
- Cash and luxury goods recovered
Raids were carried out in Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster, and Camden. Police found two Romanian women inside the search properties, believed to be victims.
Cross-Border Crackdown in Romania
At the same time, Romanian authorities executed 10 warrants and arrested seven men and one woman tied to the same OCG. They seized four luxury cars worth around €250,000 and have moved to freeze assets worth €1 million.
Detective Inspector Jim Madden of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “This investigation will continue as we look to find everyone involved, protect vulnerable victims, and uncover the true scale of this illegal operation.”
“Unfortunately, this type of exploitation is still happening across London. The Met’s Modern Slavery Team works around the clock to identify traffickers and support hundreds of victims every year.”
“We work closely with national and international partners to share intelligence and shut down those who profit from exploiting vulnerable people.”
Police enquiries into the sprawling investigation are ongoing.
