A man and woman have received sentences for their involvement in human trafficking, specifically for the sexual exploitation of women. Mariano, originally from Brazil, was sentenced to three years, with time served likely reducing her actual prison time. The court noted the absence of coercion in the case, as the women involved were deemed to have acted voluntarily.
The pair were arrested during a significant operation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in November 2022, which targeted multiple brothels across the region. Evidence presented in court indicated that substantial sums of money were transferred between the defendants, highlighting the organized nature of their activities over nearly three years.