MADDIE - PORTUGAL - 12 child smugglers arrested
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MADDIE - PORTUGAL - 12 child smugglers arrested
There is news just emerging of a ring of child-smugglers/traffickers in Portugal having been arrested. It is just coming through.
This might normally make page 37 of a broadsheet or tabloid, but 'The Star' has put this on its front page tomorrow: COPS BUST 12 CHILD SMUGGLERS - but preceded by a giant:
MADDIE
(in red like the above).
Someone has decided, somewhere, for whatever reason, to make this a Madeleine McCann story.
It sells papers.
It makes money.
It perpetuates the abduction claim - which McCann spokesman Clarence Mitchell says is 'only an assumption' or a 'working hypothesis'.
I wonder if there'll be a bit in the new 'very truthful' book about this story.
It's probably not too late for the McCanns to add a final, tantalising chapter about it.
ETA: This appears to be the Daily Star's recycling of a story over a week old, which appeared in the 'Algarve Resident' on 18 February, thus:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Human trafficking network brought down
Updated: 18-Feb-2011
An operation to crack down on human trafficking has led to the arrests of 12 men identified as being part of a criminal network in the Algarve and Aveiro, in the north of Portugal.
The ring is believed to be responsible for the sexual exploitation of many young women in the Algarve, some of them underage, who were being coerced into acting as prostitutes in the region.
SEF, the border and immigration control authority, began the operation, code name Roadbook, on February 7 with members of the GNR aiding SEF officers in the searches of eight properties and 11 cars in the Algarve and Aveiro.
During the operation, 30 Romanian women were identified as possible victims of human trafficking.
A statement from SEF said: “The network used very violent physical and psychological coercion to force dozens of young women into prostitution. Some of the women were found to be underage while others had been the victims of the forced administration of narcotics.”
SEF detailed how the gang would constantly move the prostitutes to different locations, both within Portugal and the wider EU region, where they would be sold and traded, and stated that this had previously hampered investigations into the network.
The SEF statement continued: “The movement of the prostitutes between different networks hindered the police and judicial authorities in being able to conduct a criminal investigation but authorities in Spain, Italy, the UK and Germany cooperated with us with the assistance of Europol in this case.”
Algarve politician Mendes Bota has praised the forces involved in the operation and for their collaborations in bringing down the network of human traffickers.
He said: “I warmly congratulate SEF and the GNR in this successful operation to combat prostitution in the Algarve and Aveiro and I hope that the 12 suspects, if found guilty, are subjected to the full weight of the law.”
He added: “Being forced into prostitution is a gross violation of human rights and I hope that the 30 Romanian women are now being treated humanely and receiving medical, psychological, legal and financial assistance to ensure they do not fall into the grip of these organisations once again.”
The politician highlighted the fact that it is not just in the Algarve and Aveiro that roadside prostitution takes place and it is “our responsibility to not tolerate these practises”.
“After all, Portugal was the first country to say no to slavery and it is our duty to say no to any other forms of slavery taking place,” he said.
The 12 men, who have been confirmed as being EU citizens, are being held in custody with court hearings taking place in Albufeira, where the investigation into the ring began.
Daisy Sampson
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well, if that turns out to be basis of the 'Daily Star's story, to link it with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seems not only highly inappropriate but utterly cynical by the 'Star' editor
This might normally make page 37 of a broadsheet or tabloid, but 'The Star' has put this on its front page tomorrow: COPS BUST 12 CHILD SMUGGLERS - but preceded by a giant:
MADDIE
(in red like the above).
Someone has decided, somewhere, for whatever reason, to make this a Madeleine McCann story.
It sells papers.
It makes money.
It perpetuates the abduction claim - which McCann spokesman Clarence Mitchell says is 'only an assumption' or a 'working hypothesis'.
I wonder if there'll be a bit in the new 'very truthful' book about this story.
It's probably not too late for the McCanns to add a final, tantalising chapter about it.
ETA: This appears to be the Daily Star's recycling of a story over a week old, which appeared in the 'Algarve Resident' on 18 February, thus:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Human trafficking network brought down
Updated: 18-Feb-2011
An operation to crack down on human trafficking has led to the arrests of 12 men identified as being part of a criminal network in the Algarve and Aveiro, in the north of Portugal.
The ring is believed to be responsible for the sexual exploitation of many young women in the Algarve, some of them underage, who were being coerced into acting as prostitutes in the region.
SEF, the border and immigration control authority, began the operation, code name Roadbook, on February 7 with members of the GNR aiding SEF officers in the searches of eight properties and 11 cars in the Algarve and Aveiro.
During the operation, 30 Romanian women were identified as possible victims of human trafficking.
A statement from SEF said: “The network used very violent physical and psychological coercion to force dozens of young women into prostitution. Some of the women were found to be underage while others had been the victims of the forced administration of narcotics.”
SEF detailed how the gang would constantly move the prostitutes to different locations, both within Portugal and the wider EU region, where they would be sold and traded, and stated that this had previously hampered investigations into the network.
The SEF statement continued: “The movement of the prostitutes between different networks hindered the police and judicial authorities in being able to conduct a criminal investigation but authorities in Spain, Italy, the UK and Germany cooperated with us with the assistance of Europol in this case.”
Algarve politician Mendes Bota has praised the forces involved in the operation and for their collaborations in bringing down the network of human traffickers.
He said: “I warmly congratulate SEF and the GNR in this successful operation to combat prostitution in the Algarve and Aveiro and I hope that the 12 suspects, if found guilty, are subjected to the full weight of the law.”
He added: “Being forced into prostitution is a gross violation of human rights and I hope that the 30 Romanian women are now being treated humanely and receiving medical, psychological, legal and financial assistance to ensure they do not fall into the grip of these organisations once again.”
The politician highlighted the fact that it is not just in the Algarve and Aveiro that roadside prostitution takes place and it is “our responsibility to not tolerate these practises”.
“After all, Portugal was the first country to say no to slavery and it is our duty to say no to any other forms of slavery taking place,” he said.
The 12 men, who have been confirmed as being EU citizens, are being held in custody with court hearings taking place in Albufeira, where the investigation into the ring began.
Daisy Sampson
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well, if that turns out to be basis of the 'Daily Star's story, to link it with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann seems not only highly inappropriate but utterly cynical by the 'Star' editor
Tony Bennett- Researcher
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Re: MADDIE - PORTUGAL - 12 child smugglers arrested
Back in the early days I remember reading an article entitled something like "McCanns did a deal with the press", this was something to do with the McCanns giving all their stories to the press who in return promised to report nothing bad.
I think that this was on Joana`s blog - does anyone else remember it and does anyone have the link please
I think that this was on Joana`s blog - does anyone else remember it and does anyone have the link please
Re: MADDIE - PORTUGAL - 12 child smugglers arrested
Hi Judge, Tony and anyone else who was here when the Joanna Yeates thread was in full swing. But for some unknown reason to me, I went to log in a few weeks ago, and it told me I was BANNED!!. I can't think for the life of me why. I used to post under the id "justme". Can anyone explain what I could have done that got me banned?
confused- Posts : 2
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Welcome back
I got 'banned' myself 3 or 4 months ago, it turned out to be a technical glitch. The same has happened to one or two others here. I can't be 100% certain, but I've never seen any discussion between Mods about banning you, so...welcome back!confused wrote:Hi Judge, Tony and anyone else who was here when the Joanna Yeates thread was in full swing. But for some unknown reason to me, I went to log in a few weeks ago, and it told me I was BANNED!!. I can't think for the life of me why. I used to post under the id "justme". Can anyone explain what I could have done that got me banned?
Tony Bennett- Researcher
- Posts : 16906
Activity : 24770
Likes received : 3749
Join date : 2009-11-25
Age : 76
Location : Shropshire
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