A global human trafficking crackdown has led to greater than 150 arrests and the identification of greater than 1,000 victims.
The six-day operation, which passed off in the beginning of June, concerned practically 15,000 officers from 43 international locations throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, in line with Interpol.
It focused organised felony gangs concerned in trafficking individuals – who’re usually underage – for the aim of sexual exploitation, pressured criminality and begging, Europol mentioned.
Many sexual exploitation trafficking victims are ladies, who’re usually recruited from overseas and brought to therapeutic massage parlours the place they’re pressured into prostitution.
“Human trafficking is a brutal and devastating crime that strips individuals of their dignity, freedom, and humanity, preying on essentially the most weak, together with kids,” mentioned David Caunter, director of organised and rising crime at Interpol.
The operation – dubbed “World Chain” – made 158 arrests in complete and recognized an additional 205 suspects, whereas 1,194 potential victims had been found.
It was led by Austrian and Romanian authorities, and centered totally on Europe – but additionally noticed suspects arrested in Thailand, Nigeria and Vietnam.
Police in Malta freed three Colombian ladies – two sisters and their aunt – who had been initially supplied employment as cleaners there by an Italian nationwide, Europol mentioned.
Upon arrival, their passports had been confiscated by the suspect below the guise of arranging work permits, the witholding of which was then used to coerce them into prostitution, the company added.
In Austria, officers made seven arrests in reference to a Romanian family-based gang that allegedly used the “lover-boy” technique to lure ladies into sexual exploitation and compelled criminality below the pretence of a romantic relationship.
And in Italy, police raided a number of therapeutic massage parlours with suspected hyperlinks to sexual exploitation, figuring out 75 potential trafficking victims, in line with Interpol.
Potential trafficking victims originated from 64 international locations across the globe, however the majority got here from Romania, Ukraine, Colombia, China and Hungary, officers mentioned.
The operation additionally noticed €277,669 (£240,351) in money seized, in addition to 30 weapons, 65 fraudulent paperwork and a tonne of hashish.
An analogous operation passed off across the identical time final 12 months, ensuing within the arrest of 200 suspects and the identification of greater than 1,300 victims.