Edinburgh and Midlothian addresses raided during Scotland's largest ever human trafficking probe
Operation Kendrew has been described as the largest and most coordinated human trafficking operation carried out by Police Scotland
Edinburgh and Midlothian addresses were among those raided during Scotland’s largest human trafficking operation.
Around 300 Police Scotland officers carried out raids in 47 addresses including in Edinburgh and Midlothian, as well as across the country in Aberdeen, Dundee, Falkirk, Glasgow, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and the Scottish Borders.
Police confirmed that 36 people were arrested in connection with the probe and 14 cannabis cultivations were discovered. Arrests were also made in Birmingham.
The operation, known as Operation Kendrew, was targeting a Vietnamese crime group suspected of human trafficking, exploitation, and immigration crime.
Around 35 warrants were served and a number of potential trafficking victims were also recovered by officers.
The operation is the largest of its kind in Police Scotland’s history, with officers led by the National Human Trafficking Unit alongside Home Office Immigration Enforcement and HMRC.
Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram, Head of Police Scotland’s National Human Trafficking Unit, said: “This enforcement action is the biggest and most coordinated human trafficking operation that we have ever carried out, and was the result of a lengthy investigation, working closely with our partners. We took a coordinated approach and the arrests and seizures are the 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 can involve 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.
“I want to thank all of the officers involved who have worked tirelessly to get to where we are today.
“We will continue to use focused days of action to disrupt and identify those who control, abuse and exploit others to bring them to justice.”
Two Victim Navigators were also deployed as part of the operation to provide independent, specialist and trauma-informed support to suspected victims.
Debi Lloyd, Head of Counter-Trafficking at Justice & Care, added: “Trauma-informed support is ultimately about recognising the person before the process. When somebody begins to trust again, to make their own choices and believe that people will do what they say they will do, that can be incredibly powerful.”