Three men and a woman were arrested in Dublin on Wednesday as part of an investigation into organised crime and human trafficking.
The three men (two in their 30s and one in his 20s) and one woman (aged in her 20s) were detained in Garda stations in Dublin on Wednesday evening under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
The operation was part of a co-ordinated day of action conducted in co-operation with the Brazilian Federal Police and Europol.
Four locations were searched in Dublin city centre on Wednesday morning, with simultaneous searches taking place in Brazil.
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Gardaí from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, with international colleagues, are investigating human trafficking, organised prostitution, brothel-keeping and other alleged organised-crime-related offences.
Gardaí said the operation had identified a number of victims of human trafficking, and that the sophisticated Brazilian organised crime group had been working in Ireland for the last number of years.
Video footage posted on Garda social media pages showed members of the force carrying out a raid on a premises allegedly operating as a working brothel. Those working there were potential victims of human trafficking, according to the Garda.
Officers from Europol and the Brazilian Federal Police were present in Dublin during the operation, while a member of An Garda Síochána was supporting police in Brazil.
In a statement, gardaí appealed for anyone who is a victim of human trafficking to contact their local Garda station or call the Garda Confidential Phone Number on 1800 666 111.
“An Garda Síochána understands that victims of these crimes may not always be in a position to make a report themselves – maybe there is an opportunity to speak to a garda who you might meet at any location,” the statement noted.
Gardaí also appealed to anyone “with any information on these heinous crimes” or who “suspects that any individual is the victim of human trafficking” to contact them.
