The three victims identified by police during yesterday’s raids are all from and were promised better lives in Scotland.
The number of women and men being kept as slaves continues to rise as callous organised crime gangs cash in on the lucrative business of exploiting vulnerable victims.
Ringleaders often tell victims they will earn in the UK and be able to support their
back home.
But the reality is they are placed in cramped, run-down flats or houses and forced to work long hours in cannabis farms, prostitution, or factories and nail bars for little or no money.
In some cases, they are only provided with food and drink and no money and if they’re paid it can be as little as £2 an hour or less.
Investigating human trafficking networks is vast and complex but Police Scotland, the y and the Home Office all have units dedicated to dismantling the scourge of modern slavery.
DI Mark McLennan, in charge of Glasgow’s Human Trafficking Unit, revealed it often happens in “plain sight” within communities.
He said: “The victims identified yesterday will be given the appropriate support by partner agencies.
“Anyone with concerns about the welfare of someone they suspect has been should contact the police.
“Human trafficking is often happening in plain sight. We are committed to conducting thorough investigations to identify those responsible.”
Earlier this month, Operation Risbalit, led by detectives from Edinburgh’s Public Protection Unit (PPU), targeted six premises in , Inverkeithing in Fife, Cowdenbeath and Glasgow.
Three men and a woman were arrested and charged with trafficking offences and appeared in court.
Last year, 397 referrals were received by Police Scotland’s National Human Trafficking Unit between January and November 13.
Of those, 196 were Vietnamese nationals and 90 claimed to be under 18.
The figure is 20 per cent higher than that of 2018.
In November, we revealed police had set up an elite unit to investigate gangs who are smuggling Vietnamese youngsters into Scotland.
The squad, working in , are aiming to identify and disrupt the organised criminals who are preying on migrants to use as slave labour.
Over a short period of time last year in the capital, at least 10 youngsters approached the authorities for help.
It came just weeks after the bodies of 39 Vietnamese people were found in a refrigerated lorry in Essex. The driver, Mo Robinson, is due to face trial.
One of those who died, , sent a heartbreaking last text to her parents as she was suffocating and the youngest victim was only 15.
Police Scotland’s National Human Trafficking Unit works with agencies from across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world to fight the evil trade. The unit, set up in January, are based in but they will work with other investigation teams across Scotland.
DI McLennan added: “Investigations can be complex and protracted and involve teams from other areas
working on linked investigations in local communities.”
In , four members of a gang who brought women from Slovakia to Glasgow to be exploited were jailed for more than 36 years.
Vojtech Gombar, 61, Anil Wagle, 37, Jana Sandorova, 28, and Ratislav Adam, 31, were found guilty of charges involving selling eight women for prostitution and slavery following a trial.
The High Court in Glasgow heard the women were transported to the city, where their identification documents were taken, and they were made to work as prostitutes or sold and forced into sham marriages.
The gang were snared following a five-year international operation codenamed Operation Synapsis.
