Police arrest 36 in series of human trafficking raids across Scotland

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Around 300 cops raided 47 properties across the country, including in Glasgow, Falkirk, and Dundee, as part of Operation Kendrew, discovering 14 cannabis farms and “a number of potential trafficking victims” in the process.

The action focused on a gang run mainly by people from Vietnam and other south-east Asian countries alleged to be involved in human trafficking, drug cultivation, fraud, forced labour, immigration crime and money laundering.

Police Scotland’s national human trafficking unit head, Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram said: “We took a co-ordinated approach, and the arrests and seizures are a result of this work.

“Human trafficking is the illegal trade in human beings for the purpose of commercial exploitation, and it has no place in Scotland.

“It exists in many of our communities and involves people who are resident legally in the country.

“The industry of trafficking people has become so sophisticated that it often goes unnoticed.

“We will target criminals who abuse, control, and exploit people, working with partners nationally and internationally to bring offenders to justice and to raise public awareness to help identify victims and ensure they get the support they need.”

Welcoming the Police Scotland operation in partnership with the National Crime Agency, the Home Office, and HMRC, as well as Vietnamese and other south-east Asian policing forces, a Scottish government spokesperson said: “Police Scotland are to be commended for this significant intervention to stop those who exploit and abuse people.

“Human trafficking is abhorrent and must be tackled by working with partners nationally and internationally to bring offenders to justice, raise awareness, and ensure victims receive the support they need.”