TWO Wiltshire women arrested on suspicion of trafficking laws remain under investigation.

The pair were arrested as officers swooped on brothels and homes in Swindon, Marlborough, Trowbridge and Salisbury. The raids were part of a nationwide push led by the National Crime Agency to tackle slavery across England and Wales.

Wiltshire Police said two women, a 35-year-old from Newbury arrested on suspicion of human trafficking after the raid on High Street, Marlborough, and a 40-year-old suspected brothel-keeper picked up at a home on Fisherton Street, Salisbury, had been released but remained the subject of police investigations. In Swindon, a brothel was shut down on Marbeck Close, Redhouse.

Nationally, more than 90 potential slavery victims were identified and 73 people arrested over the two week anti-slavery operation.

The NCA, which collects intelligence on people traffickers, said of the 24 people arrested as part of the Project Aidant push, 19 were for controlling prostitution.

Tom Dowdall, deputy director of the NCA, said: “Although some people choose to work in the sex industry, we know that others are forced into it against their will, unable to leave, threatened with violence against them or their family.

“This activity, which was months in the planning, aimed to identify and safeguard victims of sexual exploitation and arrest and disrupt their traffickers."

Slavery or human trafficking fears can be reported via the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 121 700.