Police have reportedly carried out a number dawn raids on properties in Glasgow and Edinburgh as part of a bid to stamp out human trafficking.

Ten women aged under 25 were rescued from eight addresses in Glasgow and Edinburgh after being smuggled over to work in brothels.

The raids were carried out as part of a police vow to destroy the sex slave gangs and stop Scotland from slipping into the grip of a human trafficking crisis.

Detective Inspector Stuart McNidder, who led the operation, told the Sun it was just the start and further swoops were planned nationwide as reports of suspected sex gangs had increased by 42 per cent.

He said: “We had intelligence that a Romanian group were trafficking females to Scotland for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

“The activity, which involved searching eight addresses, is as a result of our investigations so far.

“I have been investigating this for six to eight weeks. It’s been quick because potentially there are females being exploited on a daily basis.

“Investigating organised crime usually takes so much longer but we had to go quickly as the welfare of victims is ultimately more important than convictions."

During the raids, which targeted seven locations in Glasgow, police alongisde an elite squad of Romanian officers, arrested at least two people.

One if the properties was close to the city centre on Bridge Street.

Another of the Glasgow addresses was beside Central Station. Other victims were found in the east end.

A man, 29, and woman aged 30 were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking in Tollcross, Glasgow.

Det Insp McNidder added: “The success is we have managed to remove ten victims. It’s more about the victims but if we are able to get convictions then that’s great.”