Six people - including a Bristol woman - have been arrested following an international investigation into human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
As part of the clampdown, a man has been extradited from Spain to the UK today (5 December) to face eight charges.
Mark Viner was arrested as part of an international manhunt carried out by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU).
Officers arrested the 61-year-old in his Barcelona home on October 24.
He will now appear at Bristol Crown Court charged with:
- Two offences of human trafficking.
- Two offences of controlling prostitution for gain.
- Two offences of managing or keeping a brothel.
- One offence of entering into an arrangement to acquire the proceeds of crime.
- One offence of concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing the proceeds of crime.
Five more people -including a woman from Bristol - have been arrested as part of the case in connection with trafficking, sexual exploitation and money laundering offences. They are currently released under investigation.
The charges relate to the trafficking of women from Brazil to work in brothels in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and follow a two-year investigation supported by officers from Gloucestershire and Avon and Somerset police forces, together with the CPS and Europol.
Mr Viner is due to appear at Bristol Crown Court on December 6.
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