Three people found guilty of human trafficking and brothel keeping

THREE people are behind bars for their involvement in lucrative sex-selling apartments where women were trafficked for work.

Qin Huang, 31, Guolei Huang, 25, and Xiao Min, 38, were trapped as part of the joint Police Scotland and Home Office investigation, Operation Fasthold.

A series of women – mainly from East Asia – had been exploited by a sophisticated mafia to provide sexual services in Glasgow, Edinburgh and across the UK.

The trio – all first offenders – now face lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the gang.

Qin Huang and Min pleaded guilty to a charge under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act that prosecutors said included “aiding and abetting prostitution.”

The crime took place between December 2018 and September 2021.

Guolei Huang has meanwhile admitted being accused of being involved in running a brothel out of two flats in Glasgow.

Lady Poole remanded all three men in custody pending sentencing next month.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell told the High Court in Glasgow today: “Police uncovered a sophisticated and significant criminal network which organised, recruited and facilitated prostitution.

“It also involved the transportation and accommodation of women working as prostitutes.”

Mr Farrell added that the crime clan had raked in “significant financial income” through false identities to rent flats used as brothels.

The court heard that £200,000 was spent on adverts on adult website Viva Street by a so-called “commercial agency” company.

Mr Farrell said: “There is no evidence to suggest that any of the three provided the funding for these projects.”

Qin Huang (Image: Police Scotland)

Guolei Huang (Image: Police Scotland)

He said Qin Huang was involved in the “day-to-day management” of women and sexual properties for sale.

She also helped organize online advertisements.

Guolei Huang was a “custodian” while Min had a “supervisor” role in leasing the properties.

In February 2020, police became aware that a flat in Dennistoun was being run as what was described as a “Chinese brothel”.

Agents raided a few months later: Guolei Huang was there with one of the trafficked women.

Mr Farrell said: “It had been equipped and set up for the provision of sexual services.

“This meant having a bed with towels on it and a side table with condoms, wipes and baby oil.”

Another brothel was discovered in a flat in Garnethill as well as two others in Glasgow – in Dennistoun and Port Dundas – including one in Edinburgh's Old Town.

In May 2021, Qin Huang was then found to be operating from new premises for “sexual exploitation” in Townhead.

There was another sex apartment for sale in Kelvinbridge in the town.

The court heard of five women brought to the UK by the gang.

Two of them were in debt in China, another was “recruited” after being approached in a casino while a fourth had her passport taken away before being helped to “establish herself” as a worker in the sex.

A fifth woman said she arrived in England in 2019 and worked there “illegally” before being “recommended” to go to Scotland.

Speaking after their sentencing today, Detective Inspector Mark Dines said: “Human trafficking is a despicable crime that has an immeasurable long-term impact on its victims.

“We are committed to working with our partners to conduct thorough investigations, identify those responsible and protect vulnerable victims from harm.

“During this operation we worked in partnership with the Home Office’s Criminal and Financial Investigation Team and received assistance from officers from the Metropolitan Police and Cambridgeshire Police.

“We will continue our efforts to combat human trafficking and information from people within our communities is vital to help us identify those involved.

“I would ask anyone with information or concerns about the welfare of someone suspected of being trafficked to contact us on 101.”

The trio is due to be sentenced on Tuesday June 25.