London, November 14 (RHC)-- British police say they have busted a human trafficking gang in Greater Manchester which allegedly tricked women into visiting Britain, then sold them into forced marriages. The 10 men and three women, aged between 24 and 57, were arrested after police raided homes across Manchester and Rochdale on Wednesday.

They were arrested in connection with the case of a pregnant 20-year-old woman from Slovakia, She claims she was forced to marry a man who was looking to boost his immigration status. Police say the man who arranged the marriage was paid up to £15,000 ($23,600).

Officials say the woman was flown to Luton in May, having been told she was to visit her sister. However, she was sold, and in July married in Rochdale.

She was recently taken to The Royal Oldham Hospital by another woman to have an abortion, but medics told her the procedure could not be carried out because the fetus was more than 25 weeks old. The hospital officials accordingly alerted social services in what later prompted an operation that led to the dismantling of the human trafficking gang.

Officials say the arrested individuals are being investigating over charges of bringing women into Greater Manchester from Eastern Europe and selling them for £3,000 to have sham marriages. They say the price increases to £15,000 if the victims agree to have a child with their bogus ‘husband.’