Immigrant NGO welcomes cross-border operation to tackle organized prostitution & brothels

The Immigrant Council of Ireland have welcomed a cross-border operation by Gardaí and the Police Service of Northern Ireland to crack down on brothels operating throughout Ireland. ‘Operation Quest’ targets organised prostitution, brothel keeping and associated offences including money laundering. Operation Quest saw 100 premises within the Republic being searched and 20 within Northern Ireland. 3 people were arrested in the Republic and 5 in Northern Ireland. Police in both jurisdictions also confiscated items such as documents, cash, computers and phones. Detective Superintendent Philip Marshall who is leading the PSNI operation stated that, “our enquiries have established that prostitution was being organized on a cross-border basis so we have adopted a cross-border approach to tackle those organized criminals who are intent on making profits from vulnerable members of society”.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland, while welcoming Operation Quest, warned that complete law reform is still needed in this area. Denise Charlton, Chief Executive Officer of ICI stated that, “the efforts of the Gardaí and the PSNI in helping women who have been trafficked into Ireland by criminal gangs to be trapped into a life in brothels are very welcome and organisations such as ourselves stand ready to help any victims rescued during this operation”.

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