Anna Lo MLA said: “These raids and the rescue of three people shows that human trafficking is a problem here. This heinous crime must be eradicated.
“The people who have been rescued must be treated as victims and not criminalised.
“While this is seen as a hidden crime with unknown numbers of people involved, any human trafficking whether it be tens or thousands is unacceptable.
“I would like to thank the PSNI and the Gardai for their efforts in these raids and their willingness to put resources into tackling this crime that has been described as a modern day form of slavery. I am glad to see these two forces co-operating as it is a global crime especially as Belfast is a transit route between the UK and Ireland.”
ENDS