A 40-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man from Watford have been arrested on suspicion of running a brothel, cultivating cannabis and money laundering after a warrant was carried out earlier this year at an address in Bushey Mill Lane.

The arrests were made by the police after a week of action dedicated to human trafficking.

This comes after police launched Operation Eagle, a national campaign against human trafficking and slavery, which ran between October 14 and October 18.

Detective Inspector Steve Keating of Hertfordshire’s Economic Crime Unit said: "Human trafficking is a vile crime that results in humans being exploited for the benefit of others.

"Operation Eagle is being launched to raise awareness of human trafficking and the type of activity that could be related to organised criminal gangs.

"These gangs are often connected to premises which are used for activities such as brothels, car washes and cannabis factories where exploited people are forced or coerced to work in degrading, appalling and illegal conditions."

Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, David Lloyd added: "There is nothing more despicable than those criminals who target, abuse and exploit vulnerable people. I want to ensure that Hertfordshire Constabulary plays its part in tackling criminality that crosses force boundaries. Criminality does not respect borders and Hertfordshire will contribute to ensuring that the whole of the country is kept safe from organised criminals."

In total nine people were arrested over the course of the week. The pair arrested from Watford have both been police bailed until October 28.