The MP for Northampton North said: �Trafficking in people is one of the most cynical and brutal things imaginable.
�There has been growing concern at a national level about women who are being trafficked in the drugs and sex trade.
�They are very isolated and extremely vulnerable. These women are complete victims.�
Heathrow Airport is understood to be one of the main routes for smuggling women into Britain, before they are ferried up to Northampton.A carefully co-ordinated programme of repeatedly moving the prostitutes around the country then begins, preventing the women from becoming settled in one place so they can attempt to break out of the sex trade.
Mrs Keeble revealed she had been approached by several African women, often aged in their mid-20s, who believed she would be able to help them obtain visas from the Home Office.
But in many of the instances, a man has accompanied the woman claiming to be her agent or an interpreter.Mrs Keeble said: �It is apparent from these meetings that the women are not entirely free agents.
�I am very concerned that these women are brought to the country under false pretences, and when they are here they are treated very badly.�But they are moved around repeatedly, and it is very difficult to keep track of where they are.�Northampton has emerged as a prime spot for human trafficking gangs to operate, largely due to its central location in the nation�s transport infrastructure.Emmanuel and Donna Nyoni, both aged 43, from West Rising, Hunsbury, admitted earlier this year to smuggling up to 20 Zimbabweans into the country.
There was no link to prostitution in the Nyonis� case, but it nonetheless proved trafficking routes have been established between Africa and Northampton.And during police raids in November 1998, detectives unearthed a Thai prostitution racket operating out of two Northampton brothels on Kingsley Park Terrace.
But Northamptonshire Police officers stressed they were not aware of any smuggling rings currently in the county.
Det Sgt Dave Sherwood said: �Nationally, there is intelligence to indicate an increase in trafficking.�However, there is no intelligence to suggest that this is happening in Northamptonshire, and there are no ongoing investigations in relation to this type of crime.�
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