Police Scotland arrest 36 suspected Vietnamese gangsters in force's biggest anti-trafficking operation

Police Scotland arrest 36 suspected Vietnamese gangsters in force's biggest anti-trafficking operation Police Scotland have made 36 arrests in what the force describes as its biggest anti-trafficking operation. Officers found 14 cannabis cultivations and potential trafficking victims during the investigation into alleged human trafficking Police Scotland have arrested 36 people in what the force has described as its "biggest and most co-ordinated" operation ever to tackle alleged human trafficking. Approximately 300 officers were deployed for Wednesday's operation, raiding 47 properties across Glasgow, Falkirk, Dundee and other locations throughout the central belt and north-east. Alongside the arrests, police uncovered 14 cannabis cultivations and "a number of potential trafficking victims". Operation Kendrew is focused on a group believed to be predominantly run by Vietnamese nationals, with some members from other south-east Asian countries, operating throughout the UK. The gang is being investigated for offences including alleged human trafficking, drug cultivation, fraud, forced labour, immigration crime, and money laundering. Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram, head of Police Scotland's national human trafficking unit, said officers believe Operation Kendrew will "absolutely" disrupt the group's activities moving forward. He said: "This enforcement action is the biggest and most co-ordinated human trafficking operation that we have ever carried out, and is a result of a lengthy investigation, working closely with our partners. 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." Approximately 20 individuals had been detained by 12.30pm on Wednesday. A warehouse in Glasgow's Dalmarnock area was amongst the properties raided by officers as part of the operation. At 8am, helmet-clad officers used cutting tools to force open a shutter and gain access to the premises, where they were spotted conducting searches throughout the building. A property in the city's Springburn district was also targeted in the raids. Police Scotland joined forces with the National Crime Agency, the Home Office, Immigration Enforcement, HMRC and Vietnamese and other south-east Asian policing forces for the operation. Mr Bertram described it as an "ongoing, large-scale investigation", urging anyone with information or suspicions about human trafficking to get in touch with police. He said: "I think the Scottish public are much better now at spotting the signs of human trafficking and are more likely to phone. The ask is to continue to do that." He stressed that anyone harbouring any suspicions whatsoever should contact police "as a matter of urgency." The Scottish Government has reaffirmed its commitment to combating organised crime, describing human trafficking as "abhorrent". A spokesperson stated: "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. "Disrupting organised crime is a priority for the Scottish Government. The Scottish Crime Campus was established over a decade ago to ensure the main law enforcement agencies, including the National Human Trafficking Unit, work together to target those who profit from serious organised crime."