SOCA Nails International Vice Ring

Tue, 23 June 2009 Courtesy of: SOCA

An Eastern European woman who became a victim of a prostitution ring after she was tricked into travelling to the UK with the promise of a job, watched as the gang responsible for her ordeal were sentenced to a total of 31 and a half years in prison.

Today in Preston Crown Court, His Honour Judge Brown told the three men
and one woman, that their victim would never be able to return home because
of the shame she feels from her ordeal.

The victim was 18 when she came to Manchester in July 2007, having been
promised work as a cleaner or in a shop. She was handed over to a member
of the gang Xhevdet Cikaj who told her she would have to work as a
prostitute.

When she refused and asked to return to Lithuania he imprisoned her,
terrorised her and forced her to comply. When she attempted to escape she
was beaten and threatened by Xhevdet Cikaj and Lavdrim Cikaj (no relation).

After being forced to work as a prostitute in Manchester she was then 'sold
on' to two other members of the gang in South Wales for £2,000. Edita
Tavoraite and Tafil Kadria told the victim she would pay off her 'debt' by
working as a prostitute.

Operation Adject began in September 2007 following a co-ordinated national
search for the victim. She was rescued in South Wales by Police and
protected by SOCA's Vulnerable Persons Team.

SOCA used its international reach to carry out enquiries in Lithuania and
Albania together with forces and law enforcement agencies throughout the
UK.

In a coordinated operation led by SOCA, and involving South Wales Police,
Greater Manchester Police, South Yorkshire Police the UK Human Trafficking
Centre together with the Lithuanian Police and the CPS, the organised crime
gang was disrupted and dismantled. In September 2008 they were arrested
and charged with a number of human trafficking offences including trafficking
into and within the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation, causing sexual
activity without consent and controlling prostitution for gain.

Mick Layton, Deputy Director of SOCA said:

"This was a terrifying position for a young woman to find herself in. She had
no friends in the UK and was entirely dependent on the people who abused
her. She was deceived, exploited, and treated as a commodity.

"People trafficking is slavery by another name. It is an evil crime which
degrades people for profit and ruins lives. This gang showed no humanity,
and their sentences are a warning that the UK is not a soft environment to
commit crime."

Andrew Penhale, Unit Head, CPS Organised Crime Division (North), said:
"Human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is one of the most
serious and unpleasant crimes dealt with by the CPS Organised Crime
Division.

"It is a tribute to the bravery and determination of the victim in this case that
we have been able to identify and successfully prosecute the people
responsible.

"OCD lawyers worked closely throughout with officers from SOCA, resulting in
a very powerful case being brought to Court, presented by the CPS' first inhouse Queen's Counsel, Graham Reeds."