The Southwark Crown Court handed down a 13-year sentence to Zdenek Drevenak, nine years to Jiri Cernohous, and four years to Martin Slovjak. The trio was convicted for forcing vulnerable adults into labor, domestic servitude, and sex work, the Metropolitan Police stated on Monday.
The investigation, which began in January 2019, uncovered a network of exploitation dating back to 2012. The arrests were part of a broader operation targeting a group suspected of operating in London, Cambridge, and Bedford.
During the trial, the court was told that the group’s illegal activities generated up to 400,000 British pounds (US$576,650) annually. As part of the intelligence-led operation, authorities reviewed 1,505 hours of CCTV footage from an Enfield apartment to gather evidence.
Detective Andy Furphy of the Central Specialist Crime unit emphasized the importance of tackling modern slavery and human trafficking, stating that their priority is to target dangerous offenders and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
Further investigations revealed that the group lured their victims, mainly Czech citizens who could not speak English, with false promises of jobs and accommodation in the U.K.
The group used their connections to recruit victims, who were transported by coach, plane, and car to Enfield’s Durant’s Road area. Once there, some victims were forced to work at fast-food chains in Caxton, Cambridgeshire, or a pita bread bakery in Hoddesdon and Tottenham, according to police.
Due to language barriers, the victims were tricked into signing contracts that allowed their wages to be paid into the defendants’ bank accounts. This scheme also enabled the traffickers to flout labor laws, forcing victims to work 10 to 12 hours a day without breaks.
Although victims were supposed to earn 300 pounds (US$393) per week, they only received between 10 and 50 pounds (US$13 to US$65) as pocket money. Additionally, they were charged 150 pounds (US$196.50) per week for rent.
“These men and women faced horrific exploitation that no human being should ever be put through, and the courage they have shown despite their difficult circumstances has been astounding,” said Debi Lloyd, head of the U.K. counter-trafficking operation at Justice and Care.