Detectives have raided an address in Tooting as part of a major operation across London cracking down on organised crime groups working in the illegal sex industry.

Five officers arrested a Thai woman at the unnamed address last week and police were still questioning her and liaising with the Immigration Services this week.

More than 30 premises across the capital were targeted over a 24 hour period last week in a series of co-ordinated raids, and 13 women and two men believed to be involved in the sex industry were detained.

The Tooting suspect is one of seven women from Thailand arrested in the Operation Maxim raids, with a number of others originating from Eastern Europe.

Head of the Specialist Crime Directorate, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said: "These crime groups are also involved in a whole range of other illegal activity including kidnapping, identity theft, drugs trafficking and money laundering. This is the start of a concerted effort to take out these criminals and generally make it very difficult for them to operate in London."

Operation Maxim will see intelligence officers working side by side with the Immigration Service to infiltrate criminals who are in the UK illegally and those involved in illegal trafficking.

Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur added: "We know that London is a hub for illegal entrants intent on committing serious and organised crime. These criminals are causing misery on many levels, particularly within their own communities. Many of the crimes they commit impact directly on the diverse communities of London and by arresting them we will be making London a safer city for all its inhabitants."

-From The Wandsworth Guardian

April 29, 2003 09:00