IMMIGRATION officials raided a suspected brothel in Westcliff which was thought to be part of an international sex-trafficking ring.

Officers from the UK Border Agency and Essex Police burst into the home yesterday following a year-long investigation.

It was part of a series of raids across the country, which was the biggest operation led by the border agency into human trafficking of sex workers.

Sam Bullimore, assistant director of the agency, said the raids were designed to find the “Mr Bigs” behind the illegal gang, as well as close down the brothels.

The address in Westcliff was one of 13 properties around the UK which were raided simultaneously by immigration officers and police.

Three men aged 52, 38 and 34, and a woman aged 35, were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to control prostitution for gain, trafficking and money laundering offences.

Four men and a woman, all believed to be Chinese nationals, were also arrested on suspicion of being involved in the management of a brothel. All nine, none of whom were from Essex, are now being questioned by investigators.

Officials also revealed five suspected sex workers were discovered at the addresses and have been taken to a secret safehouse.