KENT Police say seven suspected victims of sex trafficking have been found by officers in a series of raids on brothels across the county.

Twenty-eight people have been arrested. Some of those held are suspected illegal immigrants and have been served with extradition papers.

Police say Operation Pentameter has uncovered the scale of Kent's vice industry. Officers suspect at least £1.5million is spent a week in brothels throughout the county.

BBC South East Today was given access to Operation Pentameter and joined Kent Police on the raids on the brothels. Some were in high street shops, while other others were in upmarket flats and suburban houses.

Police believe there are about 300 brothels open in Kent at any one time - promoted through newspaper advertisements. Each one is believed to make about £5,000 a week.

Interpreters went with police to one flat raided in the Medway Towns, where a Chinese man and woman were found.

The woman, who is 44 with a teenage son back home, is thought to be a victim of sex trafficking.

Det Con Debbie Hunt told BBC South East Today: "We believe she came over from China about a week ago and was dropped somewhere by boat with four other girls.

"She thought she was coming over to work in massage and has found herself working in the sex trade."

The woman was taken to a special rape suite to be interviewed while the man was arrested on suspicion of being involved with trafficking women for prostitution.

Other raids uncovered no evidence of trafficking but in several cases prostitutes were thought to be in the country illegally and were handed over to immigration officers.

Police said the raids were not intended to close down the brothels, which was beyond the scope of the operation. But they believe the seven trafficking victims they found are only a fraction of those affected.

Det Con Andy Preece said there was a suggestion of "brainwashing" among the women by the trafficking gangs.

He said: "They are told they cannot trust the police authorities - that there is corruption within our police - but they are also put under extreme pressure by threats and intimidation to their families back home."