Guolei Huang served as a “minder,” while Xiao Min took on a “supervisor” role in the management of various rental properties linked to illegal activities.
In February 2020, authorities discovered that a flat in Dennistoun, Glasgow, was operating as a “Chinese brothel.” A raid conducted months later revealed Guolei Huang on the premises alongside one of the trafficked women.
According to Mr. Farrell, the flat was specifically set up for sexual services, featuring a bed with towels, a side table stocked with condoms, wipes, and baby oil.
Subsequent investigations led to the discovery of three additional brothels in the Garnethill, Dennistoun, and Port Dundas areas of Glasgow, as well as another location in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
By May 2021, Qin Huang was found operating yet another establishment for “sexual exploitation” in Townhead, Glasgow, with an additional sex-for-sale flat identified in Kelvinbridge.
The court heard testimonies from five women trafficked into the UK by the gang. Two women were in debt in China, while another was recruited after being approached in a casino. A fourth woman had her passport confiscated and was subsequently assisted in establishing herself as a sex worker. The fifth woman arrived in England in 2019 and was already working illegally before being advised to move to Scotland.
Detective Inspector Mark Dines stated, “Human trafficking is a despicable crime that has an immeasurable long-term impact on its victims. We are committed to collaborating with our partners to conduct thorough investigations, identify those responsible, and protect vulnerable victims from harm.”
He emphasized the collaboration with the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigation Team, as well as officers from the Metropolitan Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary during the investigation.