Seven people – six young women and one man – were arrested in the city last week as part of an ongoing garda investigation into organised prostitution in Waterford.
Gardai raided an apartment in the Ozier Park area at about 10pm on Thursday, following a surveillance operation involving up to 20 gardai.
The arrests were part of a continuing investigation into organised prostitution in Waterfod and the south east, a garda spokesperson said.
Six Romanian women, who are aged between 18 and 25 years, were arrested at the scene, along with a 49-year-old man, who is also a Romanian national. Three of those arrested were detained in Waterford, two in Dungarvan and two in Tramore garda stations and all were held for 24 hours under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The seven were released on Friday night without charge and a file is being prepared on the matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
