Soldiers among 28 suspects arrested in raids against prostitution ring in southeastern Turkey

ŞIRNAK – Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

Twenty-eight suspects, including eight soldiers, have been arrested during a police operation against a prostitution ring in the southeastern province of Şırnak.

Security forces organized two separate operations with simultaneous raids in Diyarbakır and Van in the last 20 days, arresting 28 of the 40 suspects taken in the custody, Şırnak Police Department said Jan. 12. Many of the victims exploited by the network were children, according to the prosecutors.

The suspects have been charged with “human trafficking,” “sexual abuse of children,” “prostituting women and children” and “running a criminal organization.” The suspects include leaders, members and accomplices of the ring, the police department said.

The province, which hosts the busy Habur border gate with Iraq and also borders Syria on its western side, is one of the major points of human trafficking in Turkey.