Man jailed for trafficking Nigerian girls out of UK

Trafficked girls controlled by Juju magic rituals

The first man to be convicted of trafficking females out of the UK, in a case involving two Nigerian girls, has been jailed.

Anthony Harrison, 32, was sentenced to 20 years for four trafficking offences as well as two of false imprisonment.

At Woolwich Crown Court, Harrison, of Stratford, east London, was cleared of two counts of rape.


The charges related to teenage victims who alleged they were subjected to witchcraft and violence.

Judge Philip Shorrock said the sentence was being imposed "to deter others who are tempted by this terrible trade" and "to reflect public disgust".
Juju magic

Harrison imprisoned both girls - aged 14 and 16 - at his home in Albert Square, Stratford, in 2009, before attempting to traffic them to Spain and Greece as prostitutes.

The two had been controlled by Juju magic rituals, the court was told.
One of the girls was gagged and bound in a bathroom One of the girls was gagged and bound in Harrison's bathroom

The case is thought to be the first of its kind in Europe to involve a prosecution linked to such a practice.

Both girls came from small villages in Edo, Nigeria, and were sold into prostitution with the help of the local Juju priest.

Juju is a significant part of West African culture.

Police said Harrison was a key player in a sophisticated network of West African people traffickers operating in the UK.

After Harrison was convicted, the prosecution told the court: "This has been something of a unique case and ground-breaking. It's the first time there has been a prosecution for trafficking out of the UK.

"It's the first time the Crown has been able to persuade victims of these type of offences to give evidence."

Det Con Andy Desmond, of Metropolitan Police, said: "These young women suffered the most terrifying and degrading ordeal - leaving them emotionally, psychologically and physically traumatised.

"Most cruelly of all, they were brainwashed into believing that if they disobeyed their captors by seeking help, they would die.

"They were also told that if they went to the police for help they would be handed straight back to their captors."

A Home Office spokesman said: "We will seek to deport this individual at the earliest opportunity.

"Our priority will always be to protect the public, and we will seek to remove any foreign national convicted of a serious crime.

"Last year we removed 5,235 foreign criminals from the UK."

Posted: at 8-07-2011 12:32 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie

  ............gud 4 him

Posted: at 8-07-2011 03:03 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming

Speechless!!  this kind of person makes this white men treat us like animal....

Posted: at 8-07-2011 03:29 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie

I know that the story we end from small village Edo prostitute, i don't know if their honeypot scrashes  them all the time, na waoooo let the man dance the drum

Posted: at 8-07-2011 04:17 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

They really need to deport his sorry ass back to Africa because he's just enjoying in a European prison. Let him spend just one year in Naija prison and see whether his eyes will not clear.

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Posted: at 8-07-2011 04:25 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

nigerians i mean

Posted: at 8-07-2011 04:36 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming

Not often we say this but Thanks to the UK government for allowing the young girls stay and rebuild their lives. And as for the guy, he served himself what he wanted.

Posted: at 8-07-2011 07:03 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming

better for him that way

Posted: at 8-07-2011 08:08 AM (12 years ago) | Grande Master

speechless

Posted: at 8-07-2011 08:55 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming

that serves him right, they will get them all, one by one

Posted: at 8-07-2011 08:58 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie