HELPLESS women are being tricked into becoming sex slaves by traffickers in people operating in various parts of Kent.

Women, still in their 20s, are lured into prostitution by ruthless human traffickers who force them to “turn tricks” to work off thousands of pounds of debt.

This is the grim reality revealed by one Gravesend sex worker, who said women come into the country after paying about £8,000 to members of criminal gangs who then demand almost £25,000 for their freedom.

Kent Police say seven suspected victims of sex trafficking have been found by officers in a series of raids on brothels across the county. Twenty-eight people have been arrested. Some of those held are suspected illegal immigrants and have been served with extradition papers.

Police say Operation Pentameter has uncovered the scale of Kent's vice industry. Officers suspect at least £1.5million is spent a week in brothels throughout the county.

The operation saw three women arrested for immigration offences at an undisclosed address in Gravesend.

The three, all Chinese and illegally staying in the UK, were working in one of North Kent’s 29 brothels – four of which were searched as part of Operation Pentameter.

Det Sgt Keith Roberts, from Kent Police, said: “We were specifically looking at brothels that advertised they had foreign girls or that our intelligence told us employed foreign girls.”

Two of the women, aged 26 and 33, were working as prostitutes – the third, 42, was a madam.

A Kent Messenger Group source said it was not uncommon for girls to be trapped into unbreakable deals after being brought to the UK by traffickers.

DS Roberts agreed with our source’s financial estimates and admitted the arrests were a double-edged sword for the girls because it released them from the gangs but meant they would be sent back to the homes they were escaping.

He said the arrests were only a small part of a much larger operation to bring human traffickers to justice, adding: “A lot of the girls, especially those from the Far East, were initially very sceptical about the police but we have officers who are very experienced in dealing with sensitive issues.

“We hope that even the ones who wouldn’t talk will do at some point.”

One girl was arrested in North Kent on her first day working as a prostitute. She had come to the country on the pretence of being a student but had been sucked into the sex trade.

DS Roberts said the girl was shamed and embarrassed by the situation and faced a family at home who knew nothing about her humiliating work here.

He said: “People need to know the danger and distress this type of criminality imposes on its victims. We urge anyone with any information to contact Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”