Six men and one woman arrested over human trafficking
- Published
Police said they had rescued "several women from sexual exploitation"
Seven people have been arrested after raids as part of an investigation into human trafficking.
Five men and one woman who were arrested during raids at addresses in Blackburn, Preston, Luton, Manchester and Northampton are in custody.
Another man was detained at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
A group of women believed to have been trafficked from Romania to the UK have been rescued from the properties and taken to safety, police said.
They are now being looked after by specially trained officers.
The seven people are being held on suspected of conspiring to traffic for sexual exploitation.
The investigation was led by Lancashire Constabulary, working with Greater Manchester Police, Northamptonshire Police and Bedfordshire Police.
Det Sgt Stu Peall, from Lancashire Constabulary's Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Team, said the "arrests are the result of a long running investigation into a Romanian organised crime group which came to our attention through a number of suspected brothels".
He said the force had "rescued several women from sexual exploitation and are working with them to secure a better future".
The arrests in full:
A 32-year-old man and a 40-year-old man were arrested at an address in Manchester Road, Preston
A 43-year-old man was arrested at an address in Wadeson Road, Manchester
A 33-year-old man was arrested at an address in Freehold Street, Northampton
A 44-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were arrested at an address in Harcourt Street, Luton
A 27-year-old man was arrested at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Warrants were also executed at addresses in Skeffington Road, Preston and Carlton Road, Blackburn