- Israeli and Russian police announced Tuesday that they
had uncovered the largest network of white slave traders operating between
the two nations in the past few years.
-
- The alleged leaders of the network were arrested - 10
people in all - in a joint police operation over the weekend.
-
- The investigation began a few months ago, when several
suspects were arrested in Jerusalem on suspicion of smuggling women from
the former Soviet Union into the country and employing them in escort
services
in the city.
-
- As the investigation proceeded, Jerusalem police
inspectors
managed to locate the alleged top white slave-trade criminal Shota
Shmalashvili,
also nicknamed "Tarzan," in Moscow.
-
- Shmalashvili, who was targeted by several police
intelligence
agencies worldwide, was apprehended on Friday. Police also arrested two
of his alleged partners who operate in Israel.
-
- The two were arrested on suspicion of smuggling dozens
of women across the Egyptian border over the past few years and selling
them to escort services and brothels throughout the country, at a price
of some $7,000 per woman.
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