Man and woman charged with human trafficking after police raids
A man and woman from Dundee have appeared in court charged with human trafficking following a series of police raids across the city.
Alexander McGowan, 35, and Jaye McGowan, 29, were among four people arrested during an operation led by Police Scotland.
The pair appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday in connection with alleged offences under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015.
Alexander McGowan faces charges of human trafficking and assault to injury. Jaye McGowan has been charged with human trafficking. Both made no plea and were committed for further examination. They were granted bail and are expected to appear in court again at a later date.
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Two other individuals - a 34-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman - were also arrested as part of the coordinated sting, which saw officers search residential properties in the city's Douglas, St Mary's and Lochee areas, and a business premises in Douglas.
The force said at the time of the arrests that they were not the end of the investigation, and that a probe into illegal activity in the city was still ongoing.
Detective Inspector Keir Smith of Police Scotland said: "Today's action highlights our commitment to tackling human trafficking and drugs offences – crimes that have no place in our communities in Tayside.
"We work closely with our partners, not just locally but nationally to raise public awareness to ensure that victims are given the support they need.
" Drugs cause misery in our communities and those who import, sell and supply will take any opportunity to exploit vulnerable people.
" Police Scotland is committed to disrupting the activities of organised crime groups and making Scotland a hostile environment them to operate.
"This operation underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country's Serious Organised Crime Strategy." A Police Scotland spokesperson said this afternoon: "The individuals have since been charged."
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