Cops arrest six from gang ‘who trafficked men from Eastern Europe to steal items left out for charity’
Officers got a tip-off that crime bosses have been using low-paid victims to run a charity bag collecting firm
COPS seized six people in dawn raids yesterday amid claims fake charities are using modern-day slaves to collect bags of clothing.
Twelve men forced to pick up the bags were found by police.
The arrests took place in Newcastle and Gateshead after a tip-off that a Lithuanian gang were using trafficked slaves from eastern Europe to collect donations.
It is thought the group were acting for unsuspecting legitimate good causes.
They set up a factory in North Shields to process clothes and sell them overseas, with the charities getting a cut.
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Supt Steve Barron yesterday said that the collectors were brought to the UK on the promise of work and housed in poor accommodation with their finances and benefits “controlled”.
He added: “We don’t believe any charities involved would know those collecting their bags were potentially victims of modern-day slavery and trafficking.”