Luigi Cucu and Costela Soare both of Smethwick, Sandwell, were arrested in March 2023 for their roles in exploiting the women. (Picture: West Midlands Police)
A couple have been jailed after they were found guilty of running a brothel and human trafficking ring which trapped more than a dozen women in modern slavery.
Luigi Cucu, 46, and Costela Soare, 37, of Smethwick near Birmingham, exploited 14 women between 2018 and 2023.
One victim, who was trafficked to the UK in 2015, was physically and verbally abused, introduced to abusing drugs which resulted in her accumulating large debts and controlled financially.
She was denied medical care and forced to work 20-hour days.
Another victim was severely malnourished, as she did not have enough funds to buy food, and her bones were protruding from her skin.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
Police launched a three-year investigation into the couple, after they discovered online posts advertising women for prostitution.
After a warrant, the pair were arrested in March 2023. Officers from the West Midlands Police Major Crime Team found that the couple had profited significantly from their exploitation, earning an estimated £734,400 by selling sexual services to men across the country.
Cucu was charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of a person for exploitation, along with controlling prostitution for financial gain.
After pleading guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 21, he was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison.
Soare also plead guilty to controlling prostitution for gain and was jailed for three years and two months.
More Trending
-
Disruption at UK airports confirmed this weekend after 6,000 planes found unsafe to fly
Channel: UK UK 4 hours ago By Ryan Prosser - Outbreak of medieval skin disease in UK schools leaving patients’ flesh ‘crawling’
- Manhunt launched after disabled passenger sexually assaulted on a train
- British granddad 'accused of trying to drown daughter-in-law on holiday’ avoids jail
Leading the investigation Detective Constable Mahadi Hasan, from the Major Crime Team, said: ‘We’ve worked hard to bring these charges against both Cucu and Soare.
‘It’s been a very in-depth and thorough investigation over the course of three years to comb through evidence to piece together the couple’s crimes and the abuse their victims went through.
‘We’ve supported and safeguarded the victims and I’m glad that both Cucu and Soare have now been put behind bars for their crimes.’
Find out how to spot the signs of modern slavery and human trafficking and how to make a report here.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Arrow MORE: Felicity Kendal, 79, scares off phone thieves after witnessing three ‘appalling’ attacks
Arrow MORE: Killer casually waits for police after stabbing family friend with ‘unimaginable depravity’
Arrow MORE: British granddad ‘accused of trying to drown daughter-in-law in pool on holiday’ avoids jail
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source Breaking NewsNever miss the biggest stories with breaking news alerts in your inbox.
Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy
