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Underage prostitution ring busted in Dubai

Raid frees 2 underage girls forced into prostitution; minister says human trafficking 'critical problem'.

Police have busted a human trafficking ring in Dubai which is believed to have forced two girls, one aged 16, into prostitution.

The girls are now being cared for, UAE daily the National reported on Tuesday.

This latest bust, in which 11 people were arrested and charged, comes as the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) released its full second annual report on Monday, detailing efforts during the past year against the illegal trade.

In the report Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and chairman of the NCCHT, described human trafficking as a "critical problem that afflicts our society".

"The fight against human trafficking is our fight and a goal we share with all responsible nations," he wrote.

"We have accomplished a lot in a short span of time, but we will continue to remain committed to consistently improving our efforts to tackle this crime."

Those arrested in the recent bust, including an Arab man and his partner, were charged with trafficking, running a brothel and forcing women into prostitution through violence and intimidation.

The Ministry of Interior is investigating claims a government official working with the Department of Naturalisation and Residency took bribes, forged the women’s visas, describing them as relatives of the Arab man.

Those found guilty of trafficking in the UAE face tough penalties including fines of up to 1 million dirhams ($272,000).