Hungarian members of international prostitution ring arrested

Two Hungarian members of an international ring allegedly arranging for Hungarian prostitutes to work abroad have been apprehended in Hungary as a result of a cooperation effort with French police, the head of the police's human trafficking department said on Wednesday.

The two Hungarian citizens who were running a model agency have allegedly organised accommodation for Hungarian women in French hotels to work there as prostitutes, said Jozsef Poltl. There is no evidence that the women were physically forced to work as prostitutes but some of them were purposely misinformed about the nature of work they were expected to do, he added.

In May last year, police arrested a Hungarian citizen who was arranging for prostitutes to work in the United Arab Emirates and several European countries including France. The suspect was working together with a French citizen who was interrogated by French police and it was revealed that other Hungarians were also involved as pimps in the prostitution ring. French police issued a European arrest warrant against two Hungarian citizens and the Hungarian police arrested them on Tuesday.

A total of 12 women have been interviewed so far and French officials are in Hungary to assist in the investigation.

The two Hungarians arrested on Tuesday will be handed over to French police only if the suspects approve this or if a Hungarian court so decides, Poltl said.

In addition to France and Hungary, Romania, Cyprus and the Czech Republic were also involved in the prostitution ring.

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