By Conor Sharkey

SEX is for sale in Strabane. A number of prostitutes have been operating from a Strabane town centre block of flats for the past two months, the Chronicle can reveal. This week, police swooped on the premises, questioned the occupants and investigations are continuing.

The illicit sex operation came to light after a classified advertisement was published in a low-brow British tabloid newspaper on a number of occasions in recent weeks.

The advertisement appeared under 'Escorts' in the paper's adult section. It read: Strabane (NI) Lisburn

**New Platinum Girls (18+)**

075********

Cheekily, a 'staff required' notice accompanied the advertisement, which appeared between contact details for a 'Hot Sexy Black' and 'Sweet Oriental'.

When the Chronicle called the mobile phone number given for the 'escort' service, we were informed that half an hour with one girl would cost £80, while the same length of time with two females would cost £160.

The woman, who spoke with an English accent, would not reveal any further details unless we agreed that we would definitely avail of the services on offer.

The Strabane Chronicle was made aware of the 'sex for sale' service a number of weeks ago.

It is known that at least three women have been involved in running the brothel operation out of two separate flats within one town centre block. Up to ten men were witnessed entering and leaving the premises in one day alone.

Last week, the Strabane Chronicle handed our findings over to the PSNI.

On Tuesday, officers swooped on the two premises and spoke to the two women occupants. No arrests were made, however several items were taken away for further examination.

Although investigating officers were remaining tight-lipped about the developments, police have confirmed to the Strabane Chronicle that they are currently "investigating suspected prostitution in the Strabane area and that enquiries are continuing".

It is understood that those involved may be connected to a much wider prostitution ring covering both Britain and Ireland.

News that sex is indeed for sale in Strabane is likely to come as a shock to many.

and the vice-chairman of Strabane District Policing Partnership (DPP) Arthur McGarrigle said he hoped police would continue to pursue those behind the prostitution operation.

"Obviously the manipulation of young women, and that is what this appears to be, has to be condemned. But this is the 21st century and these are the sort of issues the PSNI have to deal with.

"No town wants this sort of thing on its doorstep, but if one positive thing can be taken from the discovery of this operation, it is that police are now having to deal with what are deemed normal crimes as opposed to incidents of terrorism.

"Strabane needs normality and while this is hardly the type of thing an ordinary family town like ours wants, it goes to show we have moved on to become a normal town with the normal evils facing today's society.

"It is good to see that the PSNI are now able to direct their resources towards ridding us of this sort of thing instead of terrorism.

"The DPP would hope that officers can now follow this up and hopefully bring the ringleaders before the courts," Mr McGarrigle said.