A TEENAGE Vietnamese girl who is allegedly a victim of human trafficking has been discovered in Helensburgh - the second such case in the town in less than four months.

Police on patrol in Sinclair Street reportedly observed a young female out alone shortly after 11pm on Wednesday, January 15.

Concerned that all was not well, the officers stopped, and the girl is said to have ran off.

She was eventually traced and confirmed to be a 15-year-old Vietnamese national.

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Via a translator it was established that the girl was allegedly a victim of human trafficking and had been within an unidentified house in Helensburgh until she managed to get out earlier that evening.

According to police, the girl was taken to a place of safety and an enquiry is now ongoing to establish exactly how she was transported into the country and to where.

Police say there is no connection to a similar case from September last year, when officers raided a cannabis farm in Buchanan Road containing plants with an estimated street value of £80,000.

On that occasion, two Vietnamese males, aged 48 and 20, were arrested in the town centre and taken to Clydebank police station for interviews, after which the 48-year-old man was charged with allegedly being concerned in the production of a controlled drug and the alleged theft of electricity.

READ MORE: 'Trafficking victim' found as Helensburgh raid uncovers £80,000 cannabis farm

He later appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, while the 20-year-old man was not charged with any criminal offence as he was transferred to accommodation after informing officers that he had been the victim of human trafficking.

Additionally, in two separate cases in 2017, suspected victims of trafficking were found working at a nail bar in the centre of Helensburgh.

READ MORE: Second trafficked teen found by police at Helensburgh business after raids by authorities

Rachel Smith, from the Human Trafficking Foundation, said: “Sadly, young Vietnamese people are regularly among those most commonly identified as potential victims of trafficking in the UK, and we are hearing concerning reports of these young people going missing even after being identified.

“We are also hearing from services who do not feel they are being given the right training and resources to properly support survivors.

“It is vital that the UK government prioritises improving support for survivors of modern slavery to offer a real chance of recovery and protect them from becoming vulnerable to being trafficked again.”

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