Ilie Ionut, 34, and Ancuta Schwarz, 30, were arrested in Belfast three years ago as part of a joint investigation with Swedish police.

The pair were given custodial sentences and fines in Sweden and were subsequently extradited to Northern Ireland earlier this year.

They were each sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of human trafficking and money laundering, as well as “controlling prostitution for gain” under the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.

Detective Chief Inspector Douglas Grant, from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, said: “This was a joint operation, codenamed Burgrave, involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Swedish police which investigated the activities of an Organised Crime Group suspected of involvement in controlling prostitution and human trafficking in Northern Ireland and Sweden.

“This operation has been made possible through a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) agreement between the UK and Sweden. Eurojust, the EU agency set up to promote co-ordination between member states in relation to serious and organised crime, partly funded the operation. The operation was assisted and supported by Europol. PSNI and Swedish police liaised with law enforcement authorities in Romania.

“Officers carried out an arrest and search operation in Belfast in April 2013 as a result of which 13 trafficking victims were rescued.

“Working with law enforcement colleagues in various parts of Europe, we believe we have halted the activities of an organised crime gang involved in controlling prostitution and human trafficking in Northern Ireland, Sweden and Romania.

“The Joint Investigation Team agreement between the UK and Sweden was reached with the assistance of Public Prosecution Service prosecutors and has enabled our teams of officers to secure criminal justice outcomes in separate jurisdictions.

“Police will deploy every mechanism at our disposal to ensure victims are protected and that criminals are made to pay for their crimes.”