12 HELD IN RAIDS ON SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKING RING
Investigators have so far identified eight potential victims of trafficking
Twelve people have been arrested in raids in the UK and Romania targeting a suspected human trafficking ring.
Investigators believe members of the gang duped victims into thinking they were having a romantic relationship - the so-called "loverboy" method.
Nine people were arrested in raids across four police areas during the UK stage of the operation on Tuesday, led by South Yorkshire Police.
Searches were carried out in Staffordshire, Norfolk, London and Northumbria. Two women, aged 23 and 36, and three men, two aged 30 and one aged 34, were arrested in Ilford, east London.
Another two men, aged 38 and 19, were detained at a house in Stoke-on-Trent, a 28-year-old man was held in Norwich, and a 33-year-old man was arrested at a property in Newcastle.
All were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and money laundering.
Another three suspects were detained by authorities in Romania, Europol said.
Published: by Radio NewsHub