Four charged with human trafficking in Northern Ireland

Four people have been charged as part of an operation against human trafficking.

Three men aged 27, 31 and 52 and a 21-year-old woman were arrested on Tuesday following searches in Ballymena and Omagh.

The operation targets the activities of an organised criminal gang suspected of trafficking Romanian women for sexual exploitation.

The four men were charged on Wednesday with a number of offences, including controlling prostitution for personal gain and using criminal property.

They are due to appear in Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday.

As usual, all charges will be assessed by the Public Prosecution Service.