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Traffickers jailed in London for prostituting 23-year-old Nigerian woman

by Joseph D'Urso | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Friday, 11 July 2014 17:11 GMT

A UK Border Agency worker with a passport at Gatwick Airport near London, November 23, 2009. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor

Image Caption and Rights Information

The woman was stopped by immigration officers at Milan airport, sparking an investigation

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Three human traffickers were jailed in London on Friday after being convicted of smuggling a Nigerian woman into the UK with the intention of prostituting her in Italy.

She was promised accommodation and education in England, but neither materialised and she was forced onto a flight to Milan shortly after arriving. She was to work there as a prostitute.

The 23-year-old was stopped by Italian immigration officers, who noticed her false passport. Upon her return to the UK, officials established she was a trafficking victim and launched an investigation.

Human trafficking has been receiving increased attention in Britain in recent years, with a landmark modern slavery bill currently progressing through parliament.

“This victim was taken advantage of in the cruellest fashion," Elizabeth Jenkins of Britain’s public prosecuting authority said in a statement. "This was a truly disturbing case but, thanks to the bravery of the victim in giving evidence against them, the perpetrators have been brought to justice.”

Olusoji Oluwafemi, Johnson Olayinka and Florence Obadiaru were sentenced to a total of twelve years imprisonment.

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