Four charged with trafficking prostitutes

2:15pm Thursday 13th April 2006

Police raided a home in Finchley on Monday, arresting three women and one man believed to be involved in a trafficking and prostitution ring.

Gazmet Turku, 25; Elton Begu, 23; Eglantina Mara, 20; and Edmund Fejzoullai, 30, all of Grosvenor Road, Finchley, were arrested after police accompanied with dogs raided their home at 10am. Police from the Met's clubs and vice unit's Operation Ocre, searched the house for more than six hours, according to one neighbour. The group were charged on Tuesday morning with conspiracy to traffic women within the UK and conspiracy to control prostitution for gain'.

Police raided the home, along with one other address in the West End, following a month-long intelligence-led operation. One neighbour, who witnessed the event, said: "Several people were taken away in handcuffs. There were at least two or three women they all looked young and European.

"There were about a dozen policemen there with dogs and they stayed there for a very long time and were taking away lots and lots of paperwork. There was no aggravation, and the girls went away quietly."

All four people were remanded in custody and were due to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court yesterday. Another woman was bailed to return pending further enquires.