Three people convicted of human trafficking in Glasgow

Qin Huang, 31, Guolei Huang, 25, and Xiao Min, 38, were snared as part of the joint Police Scotland and Home Office probe Operation Fasthold.

A string of women - mainly from East Asia - had been exploited by a sophisticated crime mob to provide sexual services in Glasgow, Edinburgh and throughout the UK.

The trio - all first offenders - now face lengthy jail terms for their roles in the gang.

Qin Huang and Min pleaded guilty to a charge under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act which prosecutors stated included "aiding and abetting prostitution".

The crime spanned between December 2018 and September 2021.

Guolei Huang meantime admitted to a charge of being involved in the management of a brothel at two flats in Glasgow.

Lady Poole remanded all three in custody pending sentencing next month.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell today told the High Court in Glasgow: "Police uncovered a sophisticated and significant criminal network who were arranging, recruiting and facilitating prostitution.

"This also involved the transporting and harbouring of women working as prostitutes."

Mr Farrell added the crime clan raked in "significant financial proceeds" with the help of fake identities to rent flats used as brothels.

The court heard how £200,000 had been spent on adverts on the Viva Street adult site by a so-called 'business agency' firm.

Mr Farrell said: "There is no evidence to suggest any of the three provided the financing for these."

Qin Huang (Image: Police Scotland)

Guolei Huang (Image: Police Scotland)

He said Qin Huang was involved in the "daily management" of the women and the sex-for-sale properties.

She also helped organise the online adverts.

Guolei Huang was a "minder" while Min had a "supervisor" role in the renting of the properties.

In February 2020, police learned a flat in Dennistoun was being run as what was described as a "Chinese brothel".

Officers carried out a raid months later - Guolei Huang was there along with one of the trafficked women.

Mr Farrell said: "It had been equipped and set up for the provision of sexual services.

"This included having a bed with towels on it and a side table with condoms, wipes and baby oil on display."

Another brothel was discovered at a flat in Garnethill as well as two more in Glasgow - in Dennistoun and Port Dundas - with one in Edinburgh's Old Town.

In May 2021, it was then found that Qin Huang was operating from a new premises for "sexual exploitation" in Townhead.

There was a further sex-for-sale flat in the city's Kelvinbridge.

The court heard of five women who were brought to the UK by the gang.

Two were in debt in China, another was "recruited" having been approached in a casino while a fourth had her passport taken from her before being helped to "establish" as a sex worker.

A fifth woman said she arrived in England in 2019, had been working 'illegally' there before being "recommended" to travel to Scotland.

Speaking after they were convicted today, Detective Inspector Mark Dines said: "Human trafficking is a despicable crime that has an unmeasurable long-term impact on its victims.

"We are committed to working with our partners to conduct thorough investigations, to identify those responsible and to protect vulnerable victims from harm.

"During this operation, we worked in partnership with the Home Office Criminal & Financial Investigation Team and received assistance from officers of the Metropolitan Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

"We will continue in our efforts to tackle human trafficking and information from people within our communities is key to helping us to identify those involved. 

"I ask that anyone with any information or concerns about the welfare of someone they suspect has been trafficked to contact us on 101."

The trio are due to be sentenced on Tuesday, June 25.