At least one is believed to have been smuggled into the country to work in the
sex trade.
It was the latest raid in Operation Pentameter, a nationwide crackdown on human
trafficking.
More than 20 officers spent yesterday morning staking out the house, in New
Street. At 1pm eight officers broke the door down.
Two minutes later the two women were brought out. They were taken away in a
police van.
Several officers remained at the scene, searching the premises.
Police are investigating whether the premises are linked to a service
advertised as Cheltenham Chinese Delight.
An employee of neighbouring garage Ski Tyres said staff had been aware of
strange goings-on in the property for six months.
He said: "We see about 15 blokes a day going in there - day and night.
"If you stand by the door you can hear the noise inside. The men come out of
there sweating bucket-loads.
"The women all look Asian - they're from China or Thailand. It's been going on
for about six months."
The same employee witnessed the raid. He said: "The police rocked up, there was
a bang, shouting and screaming and they took them away. It was over in a matter
of minutes."
Neighbours put a warning sign in their window, after visitors kept knocking on
their door.
The Ski Tyres employee said: "One man walked straight into the neighbour's
home. They get people knocking on their door at all times of night. They are
sick of it."
Det Insp Barry Sweeny, of Gloucestershire police said: "If we've saved just one
woman from being forced into modern-day slavery then this operation has been a
success.
"This is just one of many continuing operations to combat the illegal sex trade
within the county.
"We hope that this will send out a clear message - we will arrest offenders and
use all available legislation to bring them to justice."
Insp Sweeny added: "We would appeal to anyone in the area who has any
information to contact police. It will be treated in confidence."
The women, who are aged 38 and 41, are being questioned by police.
Operation Pentameter is a national campaign to stop human trafficking for the
sex trade.
Last year, 15 arrests were made in Cheltenham as part of the operation in
Dunalley Street, Grosvenor Place South and St George's Road.
During the raids, two Chinese women were taken into care, but went missing
shortly after.
Among those arrested was Chinese man Ben Lin, who was jailed for two-and-a-half
years in October for running a brothel in Dunalley Street.
