Arrests made in Ennis as part of cross border sweep on prostitution

THREE out of a total of seven arrests as part of a cross border garda operation into organised prostitution, brothel-keeping and associated offences were made in Clare this week, The Clare Champion can reveal. 
Two men, one in his 30s and one in his 20s, and a woman in her 20s were arrested in Ennis town on Tuesday as part of a large number of planned searches in the Republic and in Northern Ireland under Operation Quest, a co-ordinated operation involving An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The three people arrested in County Clare were located following the search of a single premises in Ennis town on Tuesday by local gardaí, as part of the co-ordinated operation lead by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The three were detained in Ennis Garda Station on Tuesday around midday where they were each questioned. They were all released without charge on Tuesday night.
Gardaí in Ennis confirmed a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the matter.
The cross jurisdictional operation resulted in the search of over 100 premises, mainly apartments, flats and houses, in the Republic of Ireland.
The Garda Press Office confirmed to The Clare Champion that of the arrests made as part of the operation, three were detained locally, while a further four individuals were also arrested in other areas across the country. All have been released without charge pending a file being sent to the DPP.
The operation involved over 200 gardaí and was led by members of the Organised Crime Unit based at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation supported by officers from all garda regions.
During the investigation to date, it has been established that prostitution is organised on a cross-border basis and this joint operation was specifically aimed at individuals and groups intent on making profits from vulnerable members of society across the island of Ireland.
A third phase in the operation is ongoing and gardaí in Clare say they will continue in their ongoing and constant monitoring and apprehension of those involved in the illegal sex trade.