A new campaign against criminals who force trafficked women into the sex trade will be launched in Ireland and Britain today.
An Garda Síochána, the PSNI and 53 other police forces in Britain will take part in the project, named as Pentameter II after a similar operation which took place last year.
Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan
Pentameter's initial four month campaign led to more than 200 arrests and rescued children as young as 14 who had been forced into sex slavery.
Commenting on the launch of the initiative, Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said: "Operation Pentameter II is an example of the proactive preventative approach being taken by An Garda Síochána in tackling those who engage in this despicable crime."
"While there is no evidence of a significant human trafficking problem in Ireland, the Government is determined that all necessary actions are taken to ensure that this remains the case. In the coming weeks I will publish a new Trafficking Bill which will strengthen the law here in dealing with the evil of human trafficking."
Last year's operation saw police officers executing warrants in 515 brothels, massage parlours, private homes and other premises in Britain.
More than 80 women and girls were rescued - about half from a range of eastern European countries and rest from the Far East, Africa and South America.
According to Ruhama, the organisation working with women involved in prostitution in Ireland, at least one woman a fortnight is being trafficked into this State to work in the sex industry.
The group has become aware of 216 victims of sex trafficking in the last seven years.
In its 2005-2006 biennial report released last month, the group called for new legislation to fight trafficking and the establishment of a Garda national vice squad.
The North's Security Minister Paul Goggins confirmed a team of PSNI officers will operate a specialist unit in Belfast to fight the threat of people trafficking.
Mr Goggins, who chairs the Organised Crime Taskforce (OCTF), said: "Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery where individuals and criminal networks seek to profit from the brutality, misery and suffering they cause to others.
"It is a type of serious organised crime which the government is determined to stamp out and we in Northern Ireland will play our full role. "Pentameter 2 is designed to both rescue victims of human trafficking and to prosecute those that take part in this hideous activity."