Dozens Of Teenage Girls Trafficked In UK Modern Slavery First

Four members of a criminal enterprise have been convicted after at least 30 vulnerable teenagers were trafficked and exploited to commit acts of fraud.

The case is thought to mark the first time the Modern Slavery Act has been applied to a fraud enterprise in UK law, and involved a criminal enterprise based in Cambridge, London and Essex.

The victims, aged 14-17, are said to have been recruited via social media while they were living in foster placements or semi-independent facilities.

Person on phone (Pixabay)

Many of the teenagers suffered from abandonment issues or had learning difficulties such as ADHD, prompting investigators to believe the gang targeted girls with existing vulnerabilities to carry out theft and fraud over a period of more than two years.

During the time they were being exploited, the girls were driven to established retailers across the UK and told to ask for refunds on expensive items using fake receipts and barcodes, or to shoplift high-value items, The Independent reports.

The forged documents were created by 38-year-old Isaiah Olugosi, from Cambridge.

Victims would spend days committing fraud before being housed in hotels, where gang members are alleged to have sexually exploited at least two of them. A typical day would see the group target more than 10 stores, making thousands of pounds that were then laundered through at least 100 UK bank accounts which were often linked to the girls or to adults with mental health problems and other vulnerabilities.

Phone showing transactions (Met Police)

Following his arrest, Olugosi pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court to conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of children for the purposes of exploitation, two counts of conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and possession of articles for use in fraud.

Dame Sara Thornton, the UK’s independent anti-slavery commissioner, said she welcomed the use of the Modern Slavery Act legislation to deal with this 'substantial and serious exploitation of vulnerable people'.

She commented, 'It is really encouraging to see police and prosecutors using the trafficking legislation rather than opting for lower level offences which might be easier to prove.'

Over time, Olugosi began to build up a network of associates including Eva Dambrauskaite and Baran Karamagara, who were tasked with recruiting and managing the girls.

Messages discussing acts of girls (Met Police)

Dambrauskaite was found guilty of both counts of fraud, modern slavery, possession of articles for use in fraud and money laundering, while Karamagara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of children for the purposes of exploitation and two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Olugosi's wife, Holly, pleaded guilty to money laundering.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 8am–10pm Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm weekends. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111.