Two women and two men have appeared in court in Belfast charged in connection with trafficking prostitutes into Northern Ireland.
The four accused were arrested after police raided seven suspected brothels across Belfast on Friday.
The gang allegedly ran brothels in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast and trafficked people from other countries.
Prostitutes and transsexuals were brought to Belfast and there was a travel budget exceeding £60,000, police told Belfast Magistrates’ Court. They said the gang spent over £50,000 on advertising the women for sex.
The operation was discovered by police in Belfast who raided a flat at King’s Square in the east of the city in July and rescued two prostitutes.
One of two alleged victims, a foreign national, claimed to have been sold to those suspected of being in charge. She was sold to the gang in Glasgow and then brought to Belfast, police said.
Another alleged victim was found during searches at premises in Belfast in July.
All four were arrested during Operation Apsis, aimed at recovering the victims of sexual exploitation.
Malcolm McNeill (46), a coach driver from Forest Avenue, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, allegedly signed rent agreements for properties used in the operation and ran credit card and bank accounts.
He was charged with controlling prostitution, trafficking within the UK, converting criminal property and managing a brothel.
Ashleigh Sara Beuken (21), of Argyle Street, Glasgow, was accused of the same charges.
Stephen Craig (33), from Albert Road, Clydebank, faces the same charges.
Yvonne Dawson (22), from Tambowie Cottages, Milngavie, Glasgow is charged with controlling prostitution from April to July this year but not trafficking.
Her solicitor Denis Moloney described her as an independent escort who was not a principal player in the business. She was charged after police observed her inspecting a flat in Belfast to be used as a brothel.
All four deny the charges. They were remanded in custody.
PA