HUMAN TRAFFICKING is becoming an increasing problem in Northern Ireland, according to the North’s Minister for Justice David Ford, who yesterday reported 25 victims of trafficking were rescued in the North last year.
Publishing the Organised Crime Task Force annual report and threat assessment, he said all citizens and agencies had a duty to help tackle organised crime.
The key findings of the report include the recovery of £4.2 million (€5.1 million) of criminal assets, the seizure of £9 million of illegal drugs, £1.5 million of counterfeit goods, over one million litres of illicit fuel and the rescue of 25 human trafficking victims.
“Human trafficking is nothing less than modern-day slavery,” said Mr Ford.
“The rescue of 25 victims this year shows that the exploitation of human beings is happening in our streets, towns and cities. Our law enforcement agencies are determined to tackle this form of criminality head on.”
The taskforce, however, failed in its target of seizing £7.8 million in criminal assets. “Given the current economic climate and the slump in property prices, I think that recovering £4.2 million in this challenging environment is a credible achievement,” said Mr Ford.
The North’s Public Accounts Committee in a separate report said tacking local and international organised crime required co-operation across all Stormont “departments, agencies and borders”.