Thirteen people have been charged in connection with Operation Ruby - an investigation into an organised crime syndicate involving human trafficking from eastern Europe.

The offences include conspiracy in respect of people trafficking for exploitation and also money laundering.

Operation Ruby is a multi-agency investigation into human trafficking, led by the East Midlands Foreign National Crime team within Northamptonshire Police, together with the UK Border Agency. It is also supported by the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority (GLA).

The crime involved the trafficking of people to and within the UK from Slovakia, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

It is alleged that monies totalling up to £10 million have been laundered through various companies set up for concealing this activity.

Foreign national crime teams in the East Midlands are cracking down on criminals involved in trafficking and the organisations behind them, taking away their freedom and their assets.

Those charged are all due to appear at Wellingborough magistrates court in Northamptonshire on December 15 and 22.

Those charged include a 50-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman from Kettering; four Indian men - aged 51, 29, 26 and 23 - from Kettering and a 27-year-old Portuguese man from Spalding, Lincolnshire.

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