Police charge two in illegal prostitution syndicatein Brisbane

A Brisbane man and woman have been charged in relation to unlawful prostitution following the closure of a joint agency operation targeting an alleged syndicate profiting from illegal prostitution activities.

A 65-year-old man and 57-year-old woman were arrested in Brisbane on November 29 following a two-year operation into illegal prostitution activities in Mackay, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Brisbane.

Both were charged with four counts of carrying on the business of unlawful prostitution and are due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 18.

Police will allege the pair were running an illegal prostitution syndicate operating from motels.

As part of the operation police seized in excess of $36,000.

A total of 25 people were charged with offences relating to the provision of unlawful prostitution.

The operation involved detectives from the Crime and Intelligence Command’s Prostitution Enforcement Taskforce and Major and Organised Crime Squad Regional with assistance from AFP and the Australian Border Force.

Detective Acting Inspector Brad Phelps from the Drug and Serious Crime Group said the investigation had resulted in senior members of the syndicate being apprehended.

“This was a significant outcome and we remain committed to working with agency partners to target those operating outside the law.

“Illegal operators not only put the health and safety of their workers and customers at risk, they are profiting from illegal activity and we will continue to hold them to account,” Detective Acting Inspector Phelps said.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

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