Mariana Iova

Mariana Iova, alongside her partner Costel Tambac, was convicted at Leeds Crown Court for operating a modern slavery ring that involved trafficking women from Romania to the UK for sexual exploitation. The women were kept captive in the Harehills and Holbeck districts of Leeds, facing constant threats of violence and rape to ensure compliance. They were compelled to engage in prostitution, servicing up to eight clients daily in a brutal regime of control and abuse.

Evidence presented in court detailed Iova's active role in managing the day-to-day operations of the trafficking network, including housing the victims and enforcing the exploitative conditions. West Yorkshire Police's investigation, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, revealed the extent of the coercion used by the couple. Iova was sentenced to eight years in prison, one year less than her partner due to differing levels of involvement, and both received slavery and trafficking prevention orders.

The case, sentenced in the week commencing 9th November 2025, underscores the hidden dangers of sexual exploitation within communities in West Yorkshire, with authorities continuing to combat such networks.