Romanian pickpocket gangs are trafficking children into Britain

[25th January 2008]

There were dawn raids in Slough yesterday to capture a Romanian gang who have been smuggling children into Britain to beg and steal.

Twenty-four 'controllers' were arrested in the Berkshire raids yesterday on suspicion of human trafficking and running a theft business, generating up to £1billion a year.

Children aged between 1 and 17 years old were taken into care after the raids. These children are beleived to have been sent into Central London every day to commit crimes such as pickpocketing, credit card cloning and distraction thefts.

It has been suggested that these gangs are making huge amounts of money by trafficking children into Britain, which is being sent back to Romania for gang members to live lavish lifestyles.

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