AN Accrington man arrested on suspicion of being part of an international people-trafficking gang has been released on bail.

The 39-year-old was one of three men arrested following a two-year investigation by the National Crime Squad . Police believe they have been working for Malaysian gangsters to smuggle hundreds of illegal immigrants into the UK.

Chinese men and Malaysian women are thought to have been sent to Chinese restaurants and fast food outlets in Britain's major cities, . A 31-year-old man from Blackpool has also been released, but a 57-year-old man from Sparkhill, in Birmingham, who is suspected to be the head of the group in the UK is still being interviewed.