PAIR HELD OVER ‘PEOPLE SMUGGLING’
Irish couple accused of ferrying Albanian nationals at Welsh port
AN Irishman and his girlfriend have been remanded in custody accused of people trafficking through a Welsh ferry port.
Dean Hickey and Nisjeta Papa are believed to have made a number of runs with Albanian nationals via Holyhead.
They were detained by UK Border Force officers and have been questioned in relation to the alleged incidents.
During a short hearing the Dubliners, both 29, did not enter
any pleas. They were refused bail and ordered to appear again at Caernarfon Crown Court on January 2.
Hickey, from Lucan, South Dublin, faces three allegations of assisting in breaches of UK immigration law involving six Albanians.
His girlfriend Nisjeta Papa, from Clonee, Co Dublin, has been charged with alleged offences from August and September.
It is not believed Irish authorities were involved in the Welsh operation.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We do not routinely comment on ongoing investigations.”
Gardai have launched an information campaign led by The Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-ordination Unit.
They list their roles as:
■ Assuming national responsibility for policy development, the co-ordination and implementation of policing methods and the management and co-ordination of investigations within the unit and with divisions throughout the country
■ Providing advice, support and, where necessary, operational assistance to investigations undertaken at District level, and
■ Working in partnership with Operation Quest in the investigation of trafficking in human beings for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
The latest alleged crimes come as Welsh authorities launched a number of investigations into suspected people trafficking activities.
A total of 230 police officers were involved in an operation targeting alleged smugglers.
Six people were arrested on suspicion of committing slavery and human trafficking offences, while two possible victims were spoken with and offered ongoing support.
Earlier this year Ireland had been downgraded in a US ranking of countries that are meeting minimum standards for the elimination of human smuggling.
In the Trafficking of Persons Report 2018 the US State Department relegated the country from Tier 1 to Tier 2.
It said Ireland had made significant efforts by collaborating with international investigations and increasing funding for victim services but that these were not “serious and sustained”.