Ion Rudacan, also known as Ion Paun, a well-known criminal involved in human trafficking, has been apprehended after entering the UK using a false identity. The 36-year-old Romanian had a history of imprisonment and deportation for human trafficking and controlling prostitution but continued attempting to return to the UK illegally.
Rudacan was a primary target in Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Elba, which focuses on tackling women trafficking in the north-west of England. Despite his criminal record, he re-entered the UK unlawfully under a fake name and rented a car in Brighton in July 2023.
His illegal activities came to an end on September 4, 2023, when Sussex Police’s Tactical Firearms Unit stopped his vehicle during a routine check on Marine Parade, Brighton. Following the stop, Rudacan was promptly arrested and faced multiple serious charges.
On October 10, 2023, at Lewes Crown Court, Rudacan pleaded guilty to three breaches of a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, breaching a Deportation Order, three attempts to breach the Deportation Order, and illegally attempting to enter or remain in the UK using false documents. The court sentenced him to six years in prison.
Currently homeless, Rudacan now faces a significant prison term after his persistent defiance of UK laws and court orders.
Rudacan’s criminal history includes a November 2021 conviction resulting in a two-year and three-month prison sentence for human trafficking and prostitution control in Manchester. He was deported in January 2022 but repeatedly tried to re-enter the UK using forged EU Settlement applications. Authorities removed him multiple times from Stansted and Liverpool John Lennon airports before his final arrest in Sussex.
Additionally, Rudacan was subject to a ten-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, restricting his access to vehicles and mobile devices unless reported to the police.
Inspector Oliver Fisher of Sussex Police’s Tactical Firearms Unit described the arrest as a “proactive win” in the ongoing fight against modern slavery and trafficking. Detective Inspector Tony Platten from Greater Manchester Police condemned Rudacan’s blatant disregard for court orders and praised the collaborative efforts between police forces that led to his capture.
Home Office Assistant Director Tony Hilton commended police and immigration officers for their relentless pursuit of Rudacan and reaffirmed the commitment to combating people trafficking to protect UK borders and save lives.
Originally published by UKNIP.
