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21:59 GMT
WASHINGTON, April 5 (KUNA) -- The US Tuesday lauded the "quick response" of Lebanese authorities in breaking up a "horrific" human trafficking ring holding up of 75 women - many of them Syrian - who were tortured and kept as sex slaves.
"I commend the Lebanese security services for rescuing these women and girls and referring to them to appropriate non-governmental organizations and humanitarian services there in Beirut," State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters.
"It's something we've been watching closely," he added.
"We encourage, of course, Lebanese authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and all the perpetrators involved in the case and prosecute and convict the offenders as appropriate under Lebanese law," he continued. "And we're going to continue to monitor closely the vulnerabilities of this Syrian refugee population in the countries to which they flee."
Lebanese authorities said at least 18 suspects are now in custody.
The Lebanese Security Authorities announced last Friday the arrest of the human trafficking ring, and said they arreted two men and eight women guarding apartments where the victims were kept. Other suspects are still at large. (end)
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