Dozens Arrested in Scotland's Largest Human Trafficking Crackdown Targeting Vietnamese Gang

Police Scotland has conducted its largest-ever human trafficking operation, resulting in dozens of arrests and the discovery of numerous cannabis farms. Operation Kendrew, a nationwide series of raids carried out on Wednesday, targeted a suspected Vietnamese gang involved in human trafficking, exploitation, and organized immigration crime.

More than 300 officers participated in the coordinated effort, which led to the arrest of 36 individuals and the identification of 14 cannabis cultivation sites. The operation also resulted in the discovery of a number of potential human trafficking victims.

Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram, head of Police Scotland’s national human trafficking unit, stated that the operation was the culmination of a lengthy investigation conducted in close collaboration with partner agencies. "This enforcement action is the biggest and most coordinated human trafficking operation that we have ever carried out," Bertram said.

Authorities executed 35 warrants simultaneously, targeting 47 addresses across Scotland, including locations in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Ayrshire, and Glasgow. Arrests were also made in Birmingham.

A warehouse in the Dalmarnock area of Glasgow was among the properties raided. Officers, equipped with protective helmets, breached a shutter to gain entry.

Inside some of the raided properties, police discovered dozens of cannabis plants, with elaborate setups featuring powerful grow lights.

Bertram emphasized that human trafficking, the illegal trade of human beings for commercial exploitation, has no place in Scotland. He noted that the sophisticated nature of trafficking operations can often lead to them going unnoticed, and that victims may be legal residents of the country. "We will target criminals who abuse, control and exploit people," he added, highlighting efforts to bring offenders to justice and raise public awareness.

Approximately a dozen of those arrested were scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, with charges including those in Dundee, Edinburgh, and Fife.

Glasgow saw the most significant police activity, with 19 addresses raided. Edinburgh had 11 raids, Aberdeen had five, and Dundee had three. The operation also extended to properties in the Borders and Ayrshire, suggesting the gang's reach beyond urban centers.