The two appeared before a special sitting of the Magistrates' Court in Derry yesterday following their arrests in the city on Thursday. A third Nigerian man, with an address in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, has been handed over by the PSNI to the immigration authorities.

Appearing before magistrate Liam McNally were Akeem Olugbenga Shittu, 29, from 12 Lohunda Crescent, Blanchardstown, Dublin, and Alexander Success, 25, from 126 Waterfoot Park, Waterside, Derry.

The defendants, who are originally from Lagos, are jointly charged with assisting the illegal entry into the UK in 2002 of Justin Tan, an illegal Chinese immigrant. The court heard that Shittu has a child in the republic and has been given residence here "as a result of his child".

PSNI detective constable Tim McCullough told the court that both defendants replied "not guilty" when charged with the offence. The detective claimed the defendants were members of a worldwide criminal organisation involved in people trafficking.

"The defendants are facilitating the passage of illegal immigrants into the UK by the processing of false documentation and by arranged marriages with vulnerable persons and there is a large amount of cash involved as well, " he told the court.

The detective claimed that the two were involved in an international network of people-trafficking which included China, Germany, South Africa, Nigeria and Ireland.

"We have come across a ring, a network, involved in arranged marriages in order to facilitate immigrants. We have identified young vulnerable females in the area who have become involved in arranged marriages. Some of them are living in fear of their lives. I believe there will be further charges, " he said.

The witness said the Justin Tan named on the charge sheet had a marriage "facilitated by the two defendants" and that the police were interviewing a women in relation to the arranged marriage.

The magistrate rejected an application for bail and remanded the defendants in custody to appear before Ballymena magistrates' court via video link on 15 June.