Met Police and modern slavery charity work to protect victims of exploitation

Met Police and modern slavery charity work to protect victims of exploitation

The Metropolitan Police and Justice & Care have jointly worked to pursue the conviction of prolific sex trafficker Roland Cankaj to protect multiple victims of exploitation.

Roland Cankaj, 43 (19.03.1981) of Western Gateway, Tower Hamlets, E16 appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, 23 October where he was found guilty of multiple exploitation offences following a six day trial.

The Met’s modern slavery team launched an investigation into an organised crime network named the ‘Cankaj Brotherhood’ in 2022 with intelligence leading to a group trafficking Brazilian women into the UK to be sexually exploited.

The detailed investigation showed Cankaj renting an apartment in Tower Hamlets under a false passport. Officers begun to observe Cankaj’s movements and saw him drive young women to addresses and waiting outside in the car while the women went inside. He was also seen to be in the company of young women, taking provocative pictures of them outside London landmarks which were used to advertise sexual services. A brothel in Tower Hamlets, run by Cankaj, was uncovered – the rooms were sparsely furnished and contained items associated with sex work.

As a result of the officer’s work, a total of six victims were identified and the Met worked closely with Justice & Care, the modern slavery charity, to support them.

During an interview, one victim explained how she had worked as a beautician in Brazil and got into conversation with Cankaj about money. He arranged for her to come to the UK and moved her between various addresses to have sex with men she didn’t know before taking half the money – sometimes 10 to 15 men a day.

As part of A New Met for London, the Met is doing more to support communities and people who've had their trust damaged. Officers are working to protect women and children from violence and exploitation and pursuing the predatory men who commit those crimes. Through targeted operations and partnerships with community organisations, the Met is working to create safer environments for women and girls across London.

Detective Sergeant Andy Owen, who led the investigation, said:

“Cankaj tricked these women into a false sense of security, making them believe that this exploitation was a way of them gaining financial freedom. In fact, he was the one financially benefitting, making a career out of orchestrating prostitution with vulnerable victims.

“This was a complex investigation led by the Met and I am pleased our work has led to justice for these women. The key to our success was building the victim’s trust in the police -Justice & Care were integral in achieving this, providing support to these women who had spent years being exploited and ensuring they felt safe and supported to share their stories.

“The Met are dedicated to protecting vulnerable people - we rely on information from our communities to continue tackling exploitation and modern slavery in London. If you’re suspicious about possible exploitation in your area, or you’re concerned about someone who may be a victim, please contact us.”

Julie Currie, Victim Navigator Programme Coordinator at Justice & Care, who supported one of the victims said:

”We are proud to support the survivor to bring her trafficker to justice, and commend her bravery in supporting this case.

“As this case shows, modern slavery is brutal and it is everywhere - with an estimated 122,000 victims currently trapped in exploitation in the UK.

“Our Navigators are deployed into the heart of the Metropolitan Police, and many other police forces across the UK, and are often there from the moment a potential victim is identified to help them feel safe.

“They work helping survivors to start to rebuild their lives and support them to engage with the criminal justice process.

“This case is just one example of the incredible partnership between Justice and Care and the Metropolitan Police.

”Every member of the public can help us stop this crime by learning the signs of modern slavery and reporting concerns to police.”

For more information and advice around spotting the signs of exploitation, visit: Human trafficking | Metropolitan Police

Charges

Cankaj was arrested on 20 April 2024 at London Stansted Airport and was subsequently charged with:

• Two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view of exploitation
• Fraud by false representation
• Possession of a controlled article for use in fraud

He pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and keeping a brothel for use in prostitution.

He was found guilty on Wednesday, 23 October at Croydon Crown Court of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation.