The ordeal faced by those trafficked into Ireland and forced into prostitution or other forms of exploitation is barely possible to comprehend.
People either taken against their will or brought under false pretences to these shores and finding themselves subjected to the most appalling treatment at the hands of ruthless criminals.
And the shocking reality is that this form of modern slavery is happening behind closed doors on ordinary streets we may pass on a daily basis, oblivious to the horrors being experienced by those inside.
The latest evidence came this week when the PSNI said six victims of human trafficking had been identified following a joint investigation with authorities in Romania.
The women, all in their 20s and having suffered some form of hardship at home, were lured on the promise of lawful employment in Northern Ireland and trafficked through Dublin. Police said the terrible reality was that on arrival, they were instead forced into prostitution.
Two men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of controlling prostitution for gain, brothel keeping and money laundering.
Brothels believed to be linked to the crime group responsible were found in the greater Belfast area, but police believe women were sent to locations across Northern Ireland. Worryingly, it is thought more victims are yet to be found.
Shocking statistics from the British Home Office suggest almost 550 people were potentially trafficked into Northern Ireland last year.
This represented an increase of 50 per cent on 2021, while the last four years have seen the number of people referred for support as potential victims of modern slavery double.
Women's Aid Belfast and Lisburn has told how it is currently dealing with more than 230 female victims of human trafficking – up from just 47 in 2021.
Many are foreign nationals but there have also been women trafficked within the island of Ireland.
And while most have been victims of sexual exploitation, some have been forced into domestic servitude and one victim had even been subjected to organ harvesting.
The figures are clear and terrifying evidence that slavery is not something from history books but taking place in plain view in towns and villages where we live today.
Police are to be commended for their success in targeting gangs and rescuing victims to date and should be given every assistance to bring an end to this evil trade.
