UK Crime Network Collapsed: Migrant Exploitation Ends with 26-Year Sentence

Handcuffed woman shows "NOT FOR SALE" on her palms.

A human trafficking gang in the UK has been sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison for exploiting vulnerable migrants, forcing them to work in fast-food chains and car washes under horrific conditions.

At a Glance

  • Three gang members jailed for a total of 26 years for exploiting vulnerable migrants
  • Victims from Czech Republic and Slovakia were lured with false promises of better jobs
  • Gang generated £400,000 annually from victims’ labor in fast-food chains and car washes
  • Victims worked 10-12 hour days, earning as little as £10 a week
  • Case highlights need for increased vigilance against modern slavery and human trafficking

Brutal Exploitation Uncovered

A human trafficking operation that preyed on vulnerable migrants from the Czech Republic and Slovakia has been dismantled in the UK. The gang lured victims with false promises of better jobs, only to trap them in demeaning work at fast-food chains and car washes. Upon arrival in the UK, the traffickers seized the victims’ passports and kept them in squalid conditions in Enfield, North London.

The gang’s ringleaders, Zdenek Drevenak, Ladislav Cernohous, and Jozef Slovjak, were convicted of conspiracy to hold a person in servitude and trafficking for exploitation. Drevenak received the harshest sentence of 13 years, while Cernohous and Slovjak were sentenced to nine and four years, respectively.

Victims Subjected to Inhumane Treatment

The victims endured horrific conditions, including physical abuse and cramped living spaces. They were forced to work 10-12 hour days at fast-food chains and bakeries in Cambridgeshire, Hoddesdon, and Tottenham, earning as little as £10 a week. The gang generated an estimated £400,000 annually from the victims’ labor.

In one particularly harrowing case, a victim was forced into prostitution and shot in the leg by gang member Zdenek Drevenak. The gang used various methods of physical and psychological control to exploit their victims, including misleading them into signing documents that stripped them of their earnings.

Investigation and Conviction

The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police after a tip-off from Czech police about the gang’s activities dating back to 2012. Officers reviewed extensive CCTV footage to gather evidence against the traffickers. The investigation revealed that victims were forced into labor, domestic servitude, and sex work, with wages diverted to the gang’s accounts.

“The victims were controlled and manipulated by Drevenak, Daducova, Cernohous, and Slovjak in the most despicable way.” stated Kate Mulholland, a specialist prosecutor.

The successful conviction of this gang hinged on the resilient survivors who stepped forward with their testimonies. A Justice and Care Navigator supported the survivors, helping eight of them give evidence at trial. The case faced delays due to Covid and a barristers’ strike, but ultimately resulted in the gang members’ convictions.

Call for Increased Vigilance

This case highlights the urgent need for greater awareness and action against modern slavery and human trafficking. Questions remain about how companies missed signs of exploitation, such as unusual wage payments. The situation calls for increased vigilance and support structures to combat human exploitation in all its forms. “This has been a long running and complex case and it has been our privilege to support the survivors.” said Debi Lloyd, Head of UK Counter Trafficking Operation at Justice and Care

As the UK continues to grapple with the issue of human trafficking, this case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for law enforcement, businesses, and communities to work together to identify and prevent such heinous crimes. The successful prosecution of this gang marks a significant step forward in the fight against modern slavery, but it also underscores the importance of remaining vigilant and proactive in protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation.

Sources:

  1. Human trafficking gang who forced migrant slaves to work at McDonald’s and eat from bins to survive are jailed for 26 years
  1. Human traffickers jailed for ‘horrific exploitation’ of vulnerable migrants in north London
  1. Traffickers jailed after exploiting victims at McDonald’s and bakery
  1. Human traffickers jailed for ‘horrific exploitation’ of vulnerable migrants in north London
  1. McDonald’s restaurant and major grocery chains failed to spot signs of modern slavery, BBC reports
  1. Illegal slavery revealed at McDonald’s and supermarket supplier
  2. McDonald’s and supermarkets failed to spot slavery

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