Robert William Nicholson, 65, and Xiaoqiu Liu, 57, accused of operating prostitution syndicate

Two people accused of operating a prostitution ring throughout regional Queensland and in Brisbane have appeared in court for the first time.

Two people accused of operating a prostitution ring across Queensland have appeared in court for the first time.

Robert William Nicholson, 65, and Xiaoqiu Liu, 57, were arrested in Brisbane in November following a two-year operation into allegedly illegal prostitution activities in Mackay, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Brisbane.

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Nicholson and Liu have both been charged with four counts of having an interest in premises used for the purposes of prostitution.

They appeared briefly in Brisbane Magistrates Court where their lawyer Jiabei Qi had the matters adjourned until next year.

Xiaoqiu Liu, 57 leaving Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Police have alleged the pair were running an illegal prostitution syndicate operating from motels.

As part of the operation, police seized more than $36,000.

A total of 25 people were charged with offences relating to the provision of unlawful prostitution.

The operation involved detectives from the Crime and Intelligence Command’s Prostitution Enforcement Taskforce and Major and Organised Crime Squad Regional with assistance from AFP and the Australian Border Force.

Prostitution is legal in Queensland but is heavily regulated with licences costing tens of thousands of dollars.