Car crash investigation leads police to eight victims of slavery
'Confusion and concern'
Local policing sergeant Tom Ottley said: "As part of our response to the initial incident, we identified several of the occupants of the van as being potential victims of exploitation offences. "Shortly after, officers carried out a search at an address in the Gulworthy area which led to the identification of further potential victims."He added: "We appreciate the activity yesterday may have caused some confusion and concern amongst the local community."Our officers will be out and about today so please do come and discuss any concerns with us."Devon and Cornwall Police advised people to visit the modern slavery website for advice on how to spot signs of the crime.
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I don't even know where to begin. 10 'First I found these pretty girls who were models on social media, TikTok. I downloaded the videos and pictures they posted. "Then I changed them quite a bit. I made sure there were no copyright issues. And then I reposted them on my fake accounts. 'It is like a romance scam. We target people who are lonely. It's just about making them wonder. Does she love me? The scam is called pig butchering because like a farmer who gradually fattens up the pig, the scammer extracts more and more money from the target until finally the slaughter Investigative journalist Mariana Van Zeller 'If you have a Myanmar ID you can move freely. But if you are a victim of human trafficking you are kept inside. 'In scam factories they beat people. If employees get sleepy or make mistakes, they are punished. If someone escapes, they might slit their throat if caught.' Myanmar's history of political instability has made it the perfect place for international organised criminals to set up shop. Charities working in the area estimate that more than 120,000 people are being held against their will and forced to scam. 'Tricked, tortured and trapped' Lin is a Chinese national whose nightmare began when he accepted an offer of what appeared to be legitimate work. 'They would never just let you go,' he explains. 'When you first arrive they won't allow you to have any contact with the outside. They would start threatening you to participate in scams. 95 per cent of the people at the company were tricked into joining. "It's like prison-style management. There would be physical punishment. They use a whip and kind of plastic tube wrapped around a steel bar.' Another victim says he was water-boarded with a pressure washer and then electrocuted. 'They beat my stomach, they put a polythene bag in my mouth, handcuffs," he says. "I stand up. 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It is Angel's job to flirt with the victims and she works long hours, seven days a week, only being allowed to leave the compound once every six months. And she says sometimes video call models like her are forced to sleep with the Chinese bosses. 'They told us they will fire us. I just want to refuse but they force me to. 'Don't refuse because you will be in danger'. Sometimes with the boss' friends and relatives also. 'I don't want to work anymore. I have no choice.' For many victims like Angel, humanitarian rescue groups are their only way out. Or occasionally, if enough money can be raised to pay a ransom to the compound bosses, some workers will be released. Mariana says: 'The scale of this crisis is staggering. There are estimated to be tens of thousands of people imprisoned in these facilities. I have seen how pig butchering scams have connected and upended lives across the world. 'Whether a victim of circumstance or trafficking, those stuck in Myanmar have little recourse.'
