19 Suspected Members of Sex Slavery Crime Ring Arrested

The Hague, Netherlands (AHN) - At least 19 people believed to be members of a crime ring that trafficked Nigerian children, mostly girls, into the West to engage in prostitution, were arrested in Netherlands and five other countries.

BBC News reported that Netherlands police say the traffickers used voodoo to attract children. The traffickers then smuggle the children abroad, including the United and Britain.

The Dutch police, in a statement, said the children "were placed in open shelters in the Netherlands, which made it relatively easy for the criminal organization to keep control over the victims."

"Voodoo sometimes also kept the minors in line. In Nigeria they were forced to take a vow before a voodoo priest to repay a so-called debt," the statement added.

Since January 2006, some 140 Nigerian children were reported missing from holding centers in the country. The disappearance had been probed by Dutch authorities since then.

The children were seen engaged in sex trade in Italy, Spain, and France, the police added.

Sisyphe.org reported that around 30,000 women are engaged in prostitution in the Netherlands.

Thirteen arrests of the arrests occurred in Dutch cities and towns. Also, six Nigerians were jailed in New York, Dublin, Coventry, Madrid, and Antwerp.

The Hague has sought for the extradition of the suspects arrested outside Netherlands to the country.

The Netherlands is said to be the only country globally to have a policy of legalizing prostitution, an online site published by The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women read.