Four women and two men accused of involvement in sex trafficking following raids at suspected brothels have appeared in court.

The women - Shuangyan Hu, Yafen Zheng, Yali Geng, and Pikwa Wong – and the men – Hongman Wu and Kai Shao - were not asked to enter pleas at Maidstone Crown Court.

They are accused of arranging or facilitating the travel of a suspected sex worker with a view to being exploited or controlling prostitution for gain.

Hu, 36, has also been charged with possessing criminal property. She was arrested on July 25 and £8,000 in cash was seized from her home in St Kilda’s Road in Harrow, Middlesex.

Her arrest was linked to a suspected brothel in Rock Villa Road, Tunbridge Wells, where a 39-year-old woman was believed to be a victim of sex trafficking. Another suspected brothel was in Lime Hill Road.

Prosecutor Martin Yale told a previous hearing Hu was allegedly involved in a conspiracy to run brothels and trafficking girls from China.

Wu, 39, and Zheng, 41, both of Barrier Road, Chatham, were arrested after officers raided a suspected brothel in the Dock Road area of Chatham on Monday, August 20.

Geng, 20, Wong, 26, both of Tomlins Walk Islington, North London, and Kai Shao, 62, of Mellish Street, Milwall, East London, were also charged.

The trial – provisionally set for January 21 next year – was due to be at Canterbury Crown Court, but is now expected to be at a London court. There will be a further hearing on November 23.