Criminals in Northern Ireland are aligning themselves with major international organised crime gangs dealing in human trafficking and prostitution, it was warned last night.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the PSNI, An Garda Siochana and police in Wales yesterday dismantled a major crime gang that was trafficking women from Brazil, Nigeria and Namibia into Ireland and the UK and forcing them into prostitution.

A flat in Newry was searched yesterday as part of the international operation and a man arrested there is being detained on suspicion of immigration offences.

Since then, a number of covert inquiries have been conducted by police at several locations in Northern Ireland being used as brothels by an organised crime gang through the internet.

A number of properties in the and Wales were also raided. In the Republic three men and four women were arrested on suspicion of organising and managing prostitution and a 47-year-old Irish man and 31-year-old South African woman were arrested in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

A security source last night said that Northern Ireland is no longer just a transport route for human trafficking, but women are increasingly being forced into prostitution here because of a growing market.

“The demand for this type of business is definitely growing here so naturally to feed that demand these organised crime gangs are seeing Northern Ireland as another place to make their money,” the source said.

“Serious criminals in Northern Ireland know this and are aligning themselves with big international crime players.”

Bob Lauder, SOCA regional director, said that Northern Ireland criminals were involved in the trafficking operation that was smashed yesterday.

He added: “Make no mistake — people trafficking is a serious crime. These are not willing participants, they are victims, and this trade destroys their lives and their families’ lives.

“The criminals running operations like this think they are unassailable. But the message is that no-one should feel confident that the UK is a soft environment to commit crime. SOCA’s world-wide connections mean that together with our international and UK partners we are tightening the net.

“We will find you and we will stop you.”

The PSNI said it believed it has identified at least eight women who were trafficked into the north and south of Ireland and then forced into prostitution.

Detective Chief Superintendent Essie Adair, head of the PSNI's organised crime squad, said: “We believe we have dismantled an organised crime gang which was operating in three jurisdictions in Europe and has links to South Africa.”