Press release INTERPOL – 219 criminals arrested and 1,374 victims identified during week of action against human trafficking

(AGENPARL) – Rome, June 24, 2024

(AGENPARL) – Monday 24, 2024 219 criminals arrested and 1,374 victims identified during the week of action against human trafficking
Operation Global Chain targeted cases of sexual exploitation, forced crime and forced begging
LYON, France – A large-scale joint operation against human trafficking has led to 219 arrests and the identification of 1,374 potential victims, including 153 children, in 39 countries.
Operation Global Chain (3-9 June 2024), led by Austria and coordinated by Romania, Europol, Frontex and INTERPOL, aimed to disrupt high-risk criminal networks, focusing on cases of sexual exploitation , forced criminality and forced begging.
The operation encouraged national authorities to carry out targeted activities in their respective countries, to facilitate cross-border cooperation and raise public awareness. The approach involved police forces and border guards from several continents, focusing on the criminal networks behind human trafficking, with particular attention paid to cases involving child victims.
276 new investigations opened
Inspections were carried out in hotspots around the world, with officers looking for signs of trafficking and fake travel documents. Checks against INTERPOL's global databases yielded 12 positive results, including two INTERPOL Red Notice subjects.
To cross-check data collected on the ground and enable the exchange of information between participating countries, officers worked together in a coordination center at Frontex headquarters in Warsaw, Poland.
A total of 276 new investigations were opened following the week of action, and an additional 362 suspects were identified. Authorities also seized 2,074 criminal assets, such as cash or electronic devices, and detected 363 fraudulent documents.
Operational highlights
In one particularly difficult case, Hungarian authorities arrested a local couple suspected of sexually exploiting six of their children and forcing them to beg on the streets. Judicial, medical and psychological experts were involved and the children are now under protection.
Vietnamese authorities have uncovered a human trafficking scheme involving a Chinese interpreter working for a company in Laos. The suspect lured 14 Vietnamese with the promise of well-paid jobs abroad, then forced them to create fraudulent online accounts for financial scams. The victims worked 12 hours a day, extended to 14 hours if they were unable to recruit others, and their papers were confiscated. Families were extorted for up to US$10,000 to secure their return to Vietnam. This case highlights a trend of human trafficking for forced online fraud, first detected by INTERPOL in Southeast Asia during Operation Storm Makers in March 2022 and subsequently in other other regions, leading to the issuance of an INTERPOL Amber Notice.
Romanian police officers have arrested a suspect for recruiting minor victims from disadvantaged backgrounds and forcing them into begging and sexual exploitation. The trafficker withheld their earnings and used physical violence to control.
Ukrainian National Police have dismantled an organized crime group targeting vulnerable people, identifying three suspects who controlled and forced a dozen victims into forcible begging. In another case, police arrested an individual suspected of forcing a disabled person into a sham marriage. The victim was protected by the Ukrainian authorities.
Commenting on the findings, Richard Chambers, Director of Organized and Emerging Crime at INTERPOL, said:
“Operations like Global Chain demonstrate that no country or continent is safe from trafficking and exploitation. Whether committed by family members or highly organized criminal groups, the consequences for victims are devastating. As a global law enforcement community, we are committed to sharing the vital intelligence needed to bring all perpetrators to justice. »
Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Europol Deputy Executive Director, Operations Directorate, said:
“Close and effective cooperation between international law enforcement and border protection authorities is essential to target those who exploit the most vulnerable among us. This year’s impressive results show that it is best to fight the despicable crime of human trafficking together.”
Lars Gerdes, Deputy Executive Director for Operations at Frontex, said:
“Human trafficking is a heinous crime that preys on vulnerable people and undermines our shared values ​​of human dignity and freedom. Detection of these crimes is extremely difficult due to the frequent absence of victim testimonies, leading to a significant number of unreported cases. This is why our international cooperation is so crucial.
The week of action took place under the aegis of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), with additional support from EU4FAST and INTERPOL's Turquesa and I-FORCE projects.
Participating countries:
Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Kosovo*, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Countries -Netherlands, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vietnam
*This designation is without prejudice to status positions and is consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on Kosovo's Declaration of Independence.
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