A husband and wife have today been jailed for a combined total of almost five years for running a human trafficking and prostitution operation in Aldershot.

Wei-Gong Li, 45, and Yafeng Dong, 53, of Birchett Road, Aldershot, used two addresses, one in Aldershot and one in Guildford, for prostitution and would transport women to the addresses to meet people who paid for sex.

Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) launched an investigation following a concern for safety visit at an address in Ascot Court, Aldershot, in November 2023. A lone woman was found inside the main bedroom, which contained lingerie and condoms.

Officers then executed warrants in Ascot Court, Birchett Road and Bellerby Apartments in Guildford and seized 12 counterfeit ID documents, 10 mobile phones, laptops, keys, a USB stick, and sim cards.

Meanwhile, financial investigations uncovered £182,385 in cash deposits that were unaccounted for in terms of legitimate income. Mobile phone examinations later confirmed the pair managed the brothels, arranged payments and moved women between properties.

Li and Dong were arrested and charged with a number of offences.

Li pleaded guilty to:

• Controlling prostitute for gain
• Arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation
• Possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct
• Converting criminal property
• Transferring criminal property

Dong pleaded guilty to:

• Controlling prostitution for gain
• Arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation
• Possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct
• Converting criminal property

Li was jailed for two years and one month, while Dong was jailed for two years and eight months at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 13 March.

DS Paul Jarrett, from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Wei-Gong Li and Yafeng Dong were involved in an organised criminal enterprise which targeted and exploited vulnerable women.

“The women were controlled and used for sex work purely for the financial gain of the couple – and our investigations found they had £182,385 in cash deposits.

“Our officers take reports of modern slavery, human trafficking and exploitation extremely seriously and will do everything we can to put those responsible before the courts.”