A sweeping police operation spanning 59 countries has led to more than 1,000 arrests targeting human trafficking, according to Interpol.
Called Operation Global Chain, the campaign focused on trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced labour, criminality and coerced begging. The coordinated crackdown dismantled a network funneling victims into online scamming in Cambodia, and a separate network that recruited under‑age girls via social media for sex work across Europe.
Authorities reported 2,070 victims or potential victims, most of them women. 334 of the arrests were for trafficking itself and 690 for related offences. 20 % of victims were forced into criminal activity, 11 % into labour, and 2 % into begging.
Interpol, with Europol and Frontex, highlighted new routes: Latin American victims increasingly trafficked for forced labour in Europe, with about 10 % of identified victims being minors subjected to sexual exploitation.
In Colombia a prevention campaign was launched at airports to warn about fake overseas job offers, while in Bolivia Argentinian police rescued two child victims forced to work in a grocery store. 17 suspects were also arrested in Belgium after the collapse of a prostitution ring spread over Belgium and France.
Across Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe, 40,000 officers carried out the operation between 8 and 12 June, leading to 465 investigations and the identification of 201 additional suspects. Nations such as the UK, US, France, Germany, Spain, Nigeria, Thailand and Vietnam participated.
Interpol Secretary Valdecy Urquiza warned that human trafficking remains one of the most lucrative organised crimes, generating billions annually. He praised the operation as evidence of what can be achieved when countries collaborate to shut down criminal networks and reinforce regional cooperation.
