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293 women rescued from sexual slavery

Wednesday 05 October 2011 00:00 BST
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Five people have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking after police raids on brothels rescued 293 women in a jungle region of Peru rife with illegal gold mining.

The women were rescued from sexual slavery in Madre de Dios in weekend raids on 60 houses. At least five were minors, the youngest 13.

The gold rush is destroying the rainforest and contaminating the environment with tons of mercury, which is used in processing gold.

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