A property in Derry was one of 27 brothels across the North of Ireland which have been raided in what has been described as the biggest operation against human trafficking they have carried out to date.
The PSNI said it has been investigating an organised crime group behind the trafficking of people into both the North of Ireland and the Republic.
Most of the victims are from Brazil.
A 63-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, controlling prostitution, brothel keeping and money laundering.
Police believe the victims were targeted because of their “immigration status and lack of English language, which makes them vulnerable and susceptible to exploitation”, said PSNI Detective Chief Supt Andy Hill, head of the Organised Crime Branch.
“This is so typical of what human traffickers do,” he said.
“They rely on the fact that victims are unable or afraid to speak out.
“They prey on vulnerable people, control everything in their lives and make vast amounts of money from exploiting them,” he added.
PSNI detectives from the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit were supported by more than 150 officers from across the organisation.
They were investigating an organised crime group, which has been trafficking people throughout Northern Ireland for sexual exploitation.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Liverless, was supported by partners in An Garda Síochána, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
Liam Harrison, from the NCA’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit, said modern slavery and human trafficking were “often hidden in plain sight”.
“The solution requires collective efforts, and I’m appealing to anyone who has information or concerns that someone is being controlled to please do the right thing and speak up,” Det Ch Supt Hill said.
As well as the raid in Derry, searches were also carried out in:
The brothels raided were in:
Newry
Armagh
Coleraine
Belfast
Ballymena
Portrush
Aughnacloy
Dungannon
Omagh
Cookstown.
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