Three people were today being quizzed by police following raids in Leigh and Rochford in a crackdown on the UK's growing sex slave trade.
A total of 16 people were arrested in the operation in Essex and East London which was carried out by the Metropolitan Police's clubs and vice unit backed by Southend's tactical police team.
The three arrested in Leigh and Rochford were being questioned on suspicion of living off the immoral earnings of prostitution and controlling prostitution for gain.
Five brothels in London were raided where police found nine girls from Thailand and Eastern Europe who had allegedly been coerced into working in the sex trade.
Det Insp Joe Roche, of Southend police, said: "We have got to start shaking up the sex trade because it has been growing for some time.
"We've been concentrating on the street walkers, but the hidden sex trade has been flourishing so it is about time they are put on notice that it's not something we are going to ignore."
Published Thursday July 22, 2004
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