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Press Association - Almost 40 potential victims of human trafficking were rescued in Northern Ireland in the last financial year
Money drawn from the seized assets of criminals has paid for a new project aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking in Northern Ireland.
The Gift Box is an interactive structure that will be taken around the region in a bid to highlight the plight of those targeted by traffickers.
Almost 40 potential victims of human trafficking were rescued in Northern Ireland in the last financial year.
The majority of the 38 people were female and most were being exploited in the sex industry.
They hailed from China, Romania, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nigeria, Vietnam, the Philippines and also locally in Northern Ireland.
The portable Gift Box looks like an attractive present on the outside but inside contains personal stories of trafficking and information about the issue.
It was started by the United Nations and was promoted at the 2012 Olympics in London and a number of other events throughout the world.
It has been brought to Northern Ireland with funds from the PSNI's Assets Recovery Incentivisation Scheme, which uses money taken from criminals to promote community work.
The box was unveiled at Belfast City Hall but will be available for use anywhere in Northern Ireland.
It will be co-ordinated in the coming weeks and months by local charity No More Traffik.
Stormont's Justice Minister David Ford was at the unveiling.
"This Gift Box will help to build the capacity of people across Northern Ireland to spot the signs of trafficking and to report suspicious activity where they see it," he said.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said: "Police will continue to work to rescue victims and bring offenders before the courts but increased community awareness about this issue is equally important. Trafficking requires a comprehensive response from all of us."
The launch comes after the publication of the NI Human Trafficking and Exploitation Plan for 2014-15, which aims to s trengthen law enforcement, p rotect and support victims and p revent human trafficking and exploitation.
The event at the City Hall was supported by Belfast Police and Community Safety Partnership and was also attended by the Lord Mayor Councillor Nichola Mallon, Northern Ireland Policing Board member Jonathan Craig, Belfast Police and Community Safety Partnership chairman councillor Colin Keenan and No More Traffik development manager Gemma Wilson.
Ms Wilson said: "We believe that awareness leads to action and action to change. It is our hope that the Gift Box, which will make its way throughout NI at a wide range of events in Belfast, Derry, Craigavon, Bangor and other locations, will bring about more of the positive change we have seen in recent months."
*A european-wide operation against human trafficking identified seven potential victims in Ireland over the past two days.
*A european-wide operation against human trafficking identified seven potential victims in Ireland over the past two days.
The investigations in 14 European countries were organised by Europol, and led by Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), to combat trafficking from west African nations.
Irish personnel targeted two human trafficking gangs across the country. One premises in west Dublin was searched and two Nigerians were arrested.
The arrests were made in connection with the suspected trafficking of seven other Nigerians for sexual exploitation into Ireland.
The garda Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit says the west African crime groups are highly networked with exploiters, facilitators, money launderers and people who force travel documents and visas.
“After being recruited in their home countries, the victims are trafficked to Europe and sent to work in brothels or in the street with forged identity documents,” gardaí explained in a statement, adding that victims are often moved within the EU.
Traffickers use voodoo rituals, which are commonly practised in West Africa, as an effective mean of exerting pressure on their victims, to intimidate them, and ensure obedience.
“This practice enables the perpetrators to make the exploited women pay off their debts which can be up to €60,000 incurred as a result of their trafficking to Europe.”
During the operation, which began yesterday and lasted through until this morning, checks at airports and ports were conducted.
Evidence of the movement of money believed to be proceeds of crime was found, according to gardaí.
As part of the co-ordinated approach taken, another 31 people have been checked in Ireland following requests by other member states.
*A 37-year-old woman has appeared in court in Dublin charged with trafficking two women into Ireland and prostitution offences.
---------*A 37-year-old woman has appeared in court in Dublin charged with trafficking two women into Ireland and prostitution offences.
The woman was one of two people arrested in west Dublin yesterday as part of a two-day Europe-wide investigation into people trafficking.
The investigation focussed on West African traffickers and gardaí have identified two such criminal gangs operating here with links to organised crime groups across Europe.
A second woman who was also arrested has been released without charge and a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions
Seven potential victims from Nigeria have been identified in Ireland during this investigation and gardaí, in conjunction with other police forces, are seeking to trace another 31 victims.
The Europe-wide investigation is focussed on the trafficking of teenage girls and women from Nigeria into Europe for sexual exploitation.
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