HUMAN trafficking and slavery is a "significant problem" in the north, with 34 victims identified in the past year alone, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable and NCA vulnerabilities director, Will Kerr, said 13 suspects have been arrested.
He told the BBC there were 21 live investigations in the north linked to human trafficking and slavery.
Across the north and Britain, police are involved in 300 live investigations.
Mr Kerr said estimates of up to 13,000 victims in the UK were the "tip of the iceberg".
"We have been shocked by the scale of what we have seen," he said.
