Man charged with human trafficking and gangmaster offences

A Handsworth man has been charged with human trafficking and a gangmaster offence following a multi-agency anti-slavery operation in Birmingham and the Black Country.

More than 80 officers from West Midlands Police, National Crime Agency, and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority attended addresses in Winson Green, Handsworth, Great Barr, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton to execute warrants as part of the operation earlier this week.

A number of potential victims were identified and removed from a number of properties. Investigations are still on going to determine the full extent of exploitation.

Four people suspected of being involved in illegal trafficking activity, namely from Romania to the UK for the purpose of labour exploitation, were arrested.

Three of the individuals arrested, two men aged 18 and 33 and a 38-year-old woman have been released pending further investigation.

Mihai Varga, aged 39 from Ashwin Road, Handsworth, was charged and appeared before Birmingham magistrates yesterday morning (7 September). He was remanded into custody and is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 5 October.