A Romanian man, accused of arranging for foreign nationals to work for low pay in the agricultural industry in Worcestershire and placing them in filthy accommodation, has been charged with trafficking offences under Section 4 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 Trafficking and Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. This follows an intelligence-led operation involving the UK Border Agency and Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA).

Vasile Ghiata, aged 31, of Wavell Road, Brierley Hill, appeared at Halesowen Magistrates Court last week where he pleaded not guilty, and was remanded in custody awaiting trial.

Gail Adams, UK Border Agency regional director, says: “Our new immigration crime teams in the West Midlands are cracking down on foreign nationals who don’t play by the rules, and the people and organisations behind them.

“We are committed to identifying victims of trafficking and tackling the criminal networks behind their exploitation. Working closely with our police colleagues, the GLA and other agencies, we will continue to detect, detain and deport the most harmful people.”

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA, says: “It is often the most vulnerable people in society who are ripped off and exploited. We protect workers and deal with the gangmasters who place profit way above any concern for the degradation and misery they can inflict.”