Trafficking Ring Which Sold Teenagers And Women for £10K Busted in Govanhill

A TRAFFICKING ring which sold teenagers and women for as much as £10,000 has been busted in Glasgow, say police.

Women who it’s suspected were raped, abused and forced to work as prostitutes were led to safety prior to the major police raid in Govanhill.

Dozens of officers from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division and Europol targeted four flats in Govanhill yesterday as part of a three year long operation into trafficking and exploitation.

Two flats on Allison Street, one on Langside Road and another on Calder Street were raided by 70 officers around 8.45am and three potential victims were found inside along with their alleged traffickers.

Traffickin g Ring Which Sold Teenagers And Women for £10K Busted in Govanhill




Such a shame to see things like this taking place on the streets and homes of our cities of what is supposed to be a first world nation.

Thing is i used to live in the area, people have been aware of what has been happening for years, and have reported numerous different incidents and the people responsible to the local authorities.

The location of the illegal brothels and culprits responsible are all well known to the public and have been so for a lot longer than 3 years.

Hopefully now the poor souls involved will receive a modicum of a better life.

And the people responsible will be punished accordingly because its about bloody time!

The key is to get the ring leader(s).

If they are only arresting those AT the flats, this creature will simply regenerate legs and arms.

There could be a conspiracy, not just in Glasgow but in raids across the world, where they only perform these raids to arrest the lowest criminals to appease the public, while the big dogs continue on. Maybe Im wrong and it will ultimately depend on what happens after investigations conclude, but "just because I might be paranoid doesn't mean they arent after me" - know what I mean?

Because we KNOW these operations include high-profile individuals AND law enforcement - that is essentially a conflict of interest. Question everything!

a reply to: six67seven

Totally agree with that assessment. It took three years of investigation and 70 officers to raid this one flat and rescue three "victims"...

...thats utter cover up. But looks good on the books.

a reply to: six67seven

Well the news article implies the investigation has been under way for around 3 years.

I can conclusively state and know it to be factual that the people of Govanhill have been aware of whats been transpiring and have been bringing to the attention of the authorities whats been happening since at least 2005.

I personally know people who have brought this to the attention of our first minister(Nicola Sturgeon) and MP responsible for the constituency of Govanhill years ago!

So one has to wonder why it has taken our beloved authorities so long to act on the available information?

Personally i agree with you, this operation will probobly serve no other purpose than to catch a few small fish while the real Whales and culprits responsible aka the money men remain undetected and/or at large.

Suppose it will at least make a difference to the poor victims through.

Here is the real problem, or so it seems to me, Police in this day of age seem unwilling or unable to act on information provided to them from the public. Even when said information comes from multiple different sources.

a reply to: andy06shake

Between this and the pedophile ring where 77 people were busted, I am really starting to fear for my country of heritage.

It's such a beautiful place. And all of the people that I met while on my 2 extended trips around the country were without exception - friendly, kind and welcoming.

It's been 15 years since my last trip.

What the hell's been happening there? Anyone have any ideas?

a reply to: andy06shake

There was a time when the old gangsters would have dealt with utter scum like these themselves but sadly those day's are very long gone.

These victim's all have had there lives stolen from them and in some degree they will never be free and carry the scar's with them for the rest of there lives.

Many of these woman will have contracted disease in this industry and many will live short lives committing suicide in a society that no longer cares about the suffering of the victims.

I despair when I hear story's like this.

a reply to: Riffrafter

Simply speaking for the area of Govanhill.

But when you dump upwards of near enough 10,000 people both refugees and immigrants from places such as Romania(Roma gypsies) and Slovakia into an area that can hardly already accommodate the population it already had.

Do very little to attempt to integrate them into our communities, leave them to live in abject poverty, and refuse to police the area in any sort of effective manner down to the race card being played, is it any wonder that places such as Govanhill become a breading ground and infested with problems such as this?

To be honest this Trafficking Ring scandal does not even scratch the surface as to whats happening regarding the area in question.

a reply to: andy06shake

I didn't know that.

Thanks for the info.

Makes me sad though. Sounds like a recipe for ruining a beautiful country.

a reply to: Riffrafter

I moved to Govanhill around the turn of the millennium when it was rather a cosmopolitan area catering and accommodation all walks of life.

Unfortunately the place deteriorated slowly at first, then rather more rapidly as the years went by, until it has become a social oblivion where old age pensioners fear to go out least they be mugged or there house screwed over the instant they leave the place.

Where you cannot allow you children to play outside(at least i did not) for fear of the roaming gangs of people, 30-40 strong, frequenting the parks, lanes and children's play areas at all hours of the day and night, shouting and fling bottles and other refuse around at each other.

There are rats roaming the streets in broad daylight, cockroaches, bedbug and other infestations that plague the tenement buildings down to the fact that the bin men refuse to move, or are unable to gain access to the bin yards because of the amount of refuse that is dumped on a daily basis or stairwells and/or back doors are blocked by old furniture or walls of blackbags 3 meters tall.

Used mattresses are lying around on just about every corner, and unfortunately these poor people take these things back in to there homes and use them because they simply don't know any better, hence the infestation problems.

End of the day we moved away simply down to the fact that it was unsafe for our children and rather a hostile environment for any family to endure.

We were lucky, we had the ability to move away but a lot of people don't have that option, people who own there homes, old people who cannot move away and are at the end of there days.

Truth is there is a form of social cleansing at play. Nicola Sturgeon is well aware of the problems and horrific conditions happening in her own constituency but has made little more than a token effort to address the issues in any meaningful manner.

My thinking is that because of the proximity to Glasgow town center(about 1.5 miles) these poor people were moved to the area in such numbers so as to destroy the community and lower land and house prices which are at rock bottom.

10 years from now it will be all new private un-affordable accommodation and these poor people will be moved along to the next social cleansing project.

Glad i got out when i did really but i feel for the people who remain and are afraid to walk there own streets.

a reply to: LABTECH767

"There was a time when the old gangsters would have dealt with utter scum like these themselves but sadly those day's are very long gone."

Not that i don't agree in theory, but that would be racial assault these days, simply not worth the lengthy gaol sentence, plus it would solve very little and only lead to increased racial tension which is already strained to breaking point regarding the area in question.

"These victim's all have had there lives stolen from them and in some degree they will never be free and carry the scar's with them for the rest of there lives."

Very true as i imagine some problems/issues in life just cant be solved with cognitive therapy or other psychological treatments. Lets face it the bastards responsible for what has been done to these poor people have stolen part of them there are very unlikely be able to take back.

"Many of these woman will have contracted disease in this industry and many will live short lives committing suicide in a society that no longer cares about the suffering of the victims."

Horrendous situation, hopefully some will be able to lead a better life and receive the medical and mental help they require to function in society

"I despair when I hear story's like this."

That's exactly how the poor sods forced to live in the area feel, like i said this incident is not even the tip of the iceberg.

It is rampant in all Western first world societies and stretches to the absolute highest. When someone actually grasps just how far reaching, top elected officials, media, Hollywood, law enforcement, churches, schools. Its so organized it would require a serious coming to Jesus moment for all humanity.

This won't fix itself, is too evil. If we don't take our planet back its gone forever.

a reply to: Rosinitiate

Poverty and the uneven distribution of wealth amungst our respective populations has a lot do do with it. Essentially allowing others of power, money and means, to be able to exploit these people and rope them in to there nefarious shenanigans via offers of a better life and existence that will never materialize.

a reply to: andy06shake

My god....that sounds awful.

It must have been hard trying to raise a family there under these conditions. I'm glad you were able to move eventually.

I would have moved too. The entire reason I bought the first 2 houses we lived in was that they each had a great school system and it was a safe place for my kids. Everything else (including my commute to work) was secondary.

But not everyone can do that.

a reply to: andy06shake

My thinking is that because of the proximity to Glasgow town center(about 1.5 miles)...

I also thought the west coast of Scotland lacked so many of the things I loved about the east, south, north and mid-lands.

It's a shame as my grandfather was born and lived in a small town called Helensboro which is right outside of Glasgow. Depressing place - I can see why he came to America. And I'll take Edinburgh over Glasgow every day and twice on Sundays.

Are the police or other authorities doing anything to try and clean that area of Govanhill up? Cancers tend to spread unless they're squashed...

a reply to: Riffrafter

"My god....that sounds awful."

The place did have its good points, back in the day it was a great place to stay, close to town, lots of shops, right next to Queen's Park(massive big city park) and other local amenities and it had an active social community.

Still some great people there attempting to fight the good fight and save the place but essentially they are up against a brick wall due to lack of support from authorities or proper community policing.

Groups such as "The Govanhill Community Campaign"

"It must have been hard trying to raise a family there under these conditions. I'm glad you were able to move eventually."

The hard part was not being able to let the kids play outside, my oldest girl who was about 9 when we moved had a few problems associating with other kids down to the isolation aspect, she's great now that we have moved. Goes out and plays like a wean instead of being confined to the house. Still cannot get her or her pals off the computer all the same. LoL

My little lad was 4 when we managed to get out so he really never noticed that much, nice through that he does not have to go through the same crap.

"I would have moved too. The entire reason I bought the first 2 houses we lived in was that they each had a great school system and it was a safe place for my kids. Everything else (including my commute to work) was secondary."

That's a plus point also, where we are now the school is only about 50 meters distant, as apposed to a bus journey away in the last house.

"But not everyone can do that."

Exactly, and that's the real issue. Load of older people that have lived in Govanhill all there life look outside and it's like a different planet! There terrified in there own homes and yet the authorities on so many different levels seem ambivalent regarding the problems the area faces, problems that those very same authorities help create and refuse to address appropriately.

a reply to: Riffrafter

Helensburgh

en.wikipedia.org...

Know it well used to go there in the summer with my grandparents, i have mates from there.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: Riffrafter

Helensburgh

en.wikipedia.org...

Know it well used to go there in the summer with my grandparents, i have mates from there.

ACK! - You're right.

Sorry for the misspelling.

And thanks for the link...

ETA - the pictures in that Wikipedia link are beautiful. I guess I picked a bad day (rainy) and went to the wrong areas. Will have to give it a second go round when I go there this fall.

a reply to: Riffrafter

Up Arisaig, Morar, Mallaig way is some of the most beautiful country and coastline in Scotland if you are interested.

Getting the weather is the problem, best around July or August time but you also get the Midges out then.

But i digress somewhat form the topic, my bad.