BRISBANE – A man and woman in Australia were today charged with drugging several women and forcing them into prostitution, with police alleging that girls as young as 17 were tattooed as property and held in “sexual servitude”.
A 35-year-old Brisbane man is accused of giving at least four victims “stupefying drugs”, and along with a suspected female accomplice, faces multiple charges relating to unlawful prostitution.
Police said raids on two properties in southern suburbs here uncovered four female victims, and authorities believe more have yet to be found.
“The investigation is ongoing. However, the women are now safe thanks to the information from members of the public and the diligence of our officers,” said Queensland police’s detective inspector Juliet Hancock in a statement.
“We believe there are other victims who have been exploited by the man, and I encourage them to come forward and contact police.”
Evidence of sexual servitude, unlawful prostitution and covert recordings of the victims engaged in sexual acts with men were also discovered in the raids.
Hancock told national broadcaster ABC that police are “shocked” by the evidence of “horrendous” crimes.
“This investigation has been confronting, when you consider those aspects, vulnerable young women being recruited, being drugged, being prostituted and being tattooed. That’s pretty confronting.” – AFP, February 5, 2021
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