Police are appealing for information about the whereabouts of three Vietnamese men wanted in connection with the alleged trafficking and rape of a 14-year-old boy.

It is believed the teenager was trafficked in to the UK from his home in Hanoi, Vietnam, in early 2010.

The boy alleged he was forcibly taken from his grandmother's home in Hanoi after she was unable to repay a loan she had taken to fund her medical expenses.

He told officers that he was transported to the UK in the backs of numerous lorries and vans. When he arrived in the country he was held captive and forced to work in a cannabis factory and illegal gambling den - both believed to have been in the West London area.

Two men - aged between 35 and 45 - allegedly raped the victim during his time in captivity.

The boy eventually escaped from the house where he was being held. He appealed to a passer-by for help and was taken to Hammersmith police station where he reported his ordeal.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command are appealing for help in tracing all three suspects.

Detective Constable Lee Moreton said: "This young boy has suffered a most terrifying ordeal. We urge anyone who may know anything about these individuals to contact the Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command."

The three men of Vietnamese origin are described as follows:

Suspect [A], known as "Hung", pictured in the e-fit below.
He is around 5ft 3ins tall, believed to be around 40 years-old,
and has black hair. He is described as having dark
skin. He had a large stomach and a gold tooth at the front of his mouth.

Suspect [B], known as "Lam". He is 5ft 9ins and is also in his 40s. He
has black hair.

Suspect [C], looks similar to Hung. He is plump and had a large stomach.
He has a round face, short, black hair and a flat nose. He has dark
eyes. He is around 5ft 3ins tall and has a scar on his left upper arm.
This is across his tricep but is not vertical.

Anyone with information is asked contact the Met's Human Exploitation
and Organised Crime Command on 0800 783 2589. If you would prefer to
remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 

June 22, 2011