ATHENS, July 9 (Reuters) Greek police said today they had broken up a human trafficking ring that forced women from eastern Europe and the Balkans to work as prostitutes.
Nine people were arrested in Greece and two in Ukraine, charged with sexual exploitation, they said.
They were still searching for seven other people abroad, helped by Interpol, the international police agency.
''Greek security forces uncovered members of an international criminal group that has been operating for the last two years,'' Greek police security chief Drossos Bougoudis told reporters.
''They were trafficking women from eastern Europe and Balkans,'' he said.
Three Ukrainian women, held against their will in an Athens apartment, were freed and now in safe hands, police said.
A further 62 people were arrested in a related anti-vice raid and were charged with facilitating and profiting from illegal sexual activity.
''Members of the gang were luring women from these regions promising them legal work and were keeping them in several apartments in Athens,'' Bougoudis said.
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Nine people were arrested in Greece and two in Ukraine, charged with sexual exploitation, they said.
They were still searching for seven other people abroad, helped by Interpol, the international police agency.
''Greek security forces uncovered members of an international criminal group that has been operating for the last two years,'' Greek police security chief Drossos Bougoudis told reporters.
''They were trafficking women from eastern Europe and Balkans,'' he said.
Three Ukrainian women, held against their will in an Athens apartment, were freed and now in safe hands, police said.
A further 62 people were arrested in a related anti-vice raid and were charged with facilitating and profiting from illegal sexual activity.
''Members of the gang were luring women from these regions promising them legal work and were keeping them in several apartments in Athens,'' Bougoudis said.
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