http://www.wral.com/news/9748683/detail.html

DURHAM, N.C. -- Federal and local investigators have arrested eight people in connection with an immigrant smuggling and prostitution ring.

Several brothels around Durham were broken up over the weekend following an investigation by Durham police, the FBI and U.S. Postal Service inspectors.

Authorities said a well organized operation arranged to bring women from Mexico and Central America and keep them in indentured service as prostitutes to repay their transportation expenses. The operation stretched from New York to the Triangle and included several brothels in Raleigh that were broken up last month, authorities said.

"A lot of them are promised jobs in the area, either in cleaning services or restaurants. They incur substantial expenses as a result of being transported across the southwest (U.S.) border and ultimately to Raleigh," FBI agent Greg Baker said. "Once they get to this area, of course, there are no jobs."