Two young teenagers forced to work as prostitutes for six months in 2014 were given drugs and alcohol to control them, Limburg media report on Friday.

Two men from Heerlen, who are suspected of forcing the girls to work as prostitutes, sexual abuse and human trafficking, were arrested in 2014 and remain in custody.

The girls were 14 and 15 at the time. The public prosecution department has not released any more information about them or how they met their pimps.

However, the pimps had taken pictures of the girls and placed them online, spokeswoman Martina Bijker is quoted as saying by broadcaster Nos.

One client has been arrested, questioned and released. Two women were also arrested but are no longer in custody.

Court

The main suspects will appear in court in late May. One, named as Sianley F, has said he will only make a statement once the trial has started.

The second suspect, Michel P, denies the charges. He was not aware of what the girls did or their ages, lawyer Leon de Lange is quoted saying.

Another case involving an under-aged girl forced to work as a prostitute is currently under investigation. That case too is based in Limburg and involves a 16-year-old.