Gangs 'trafficking foreign women into sex industry'
The number of foreign women who are being trafficked by criminal gangs to work in the sex industry is increasing rapidly, it was claimed today.
The Ruhama Women’s Project said it had encountered 91 women who had been trafficked for this purpose and had managed to help 21 in the last two years.
But its spokeswoman, Geraldine Rowley, said this was only the tip of the iceberg.
She said the problem was almost invisible because criminals were using the internet and mobile phones to attract customers to non-descript locations around the country.
“We need legislation to address the trafficking issue. We also need a garda vice squad,” she said.
Ruhama’s annual report for 2003 and 2004, published today, outlined the experiences of the women who have contacted the group.
Some were not even aware of what country they were working in, while others had been beaten up and robbed by pimps and were forced to move from lap-dancing clubs to work in the sex industry.
Ms Rowley said there was no doubt that lap-dancing clubs were linked to prostitution and trafficking.
Gardaí closed down three lap-dancing clubs as part of operation Quest in 2003.
