The Australian city where the number of ‘revolting’ illegal brothels is soaring – as authorities struggle to stop sex trafficking from South East Asia
- Authorities have been cracking down on illegal brothels with multiple raids
- Footage from a search showed the grim conditions women had to endure
- The apartments where brothels were found appeared unhygienic and mouldy
The number of horrendous illegal brothels raided in an Australian city have been soaring as authorities fear more foreign women are forced into the sex industry.
Police have been targeting illegal brothels throughout Canberra, raiding 10 underground operations since July, in a crackdown on sex trafficking and illegal prostitution.
Four people have been charged relating to those raids.
The number of horrendous illegal brothels raided in an Australian city have been soaring as authorities fear foreign women are forced into the sex industry
Police have been targeting illegal brothels throughout Canberra, raiding 10 underground operations since July, in a crackdown to see numbers decline
Footage from a search at an apartment complex in Reid showed the grim conditions sex workers were forced to endure.
The rooms appeared unhygienic, covered in mould and dirt.
Detective Superintendent Scott Moller told ABC there had been an increase in illegal brothels as there was an ‘opportunity’ to run these types of businesses in suburban Canberra.
During the Reid raids in September last year, police discovered one Thai man and three Thai women working in breach of their visa conditions or without a valid visa.
‘We are finding that the women are (trafficked) here and they’re part of a trend that organised crime is using to exploit vulnerable women,’ Moller said.
The women were being tricked into the sex industry, being told they are going to Australia to work as a maid or waitress, he said.
‘They’re here and many don’t speak English and they’re vulnerable, and in a lot of cases the only option is to engage in prostitution.’
Footage from a search at an apartment complex in Reid showed the grim conditions sex workers were forced to endure
During the Reid raids in September last year, police discovered one Thai man and three Thai women working in breach of their visa conditions or without a valid visa
Women found in illegal brothels tend to be directed to support services, such as Sex Workers Outreach Program.
However, some programs require the women to give evidence, which in some cases can be challenging due to the victims’ limited English.
Cracking down on businesses employing foreign workers is an operational priority for the Australian Border Force, including through compliance activity and its work under Taskforce Cadena.