More than 1,000 people have been arrested as part of a global crackdown on human trafficking spanning 59 countries.
Coordinated by Interpol, Operation Global Chain saw officers target trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced labour and criminality, and coerced begging.
A network that was trafficking victims into online scamming in Cambodia, and a network forcing underage girls recruited via social media into sex work in Europe were dismantled as part of the operation, authorities said.
In total, 2,070 victims or potential victims were identified, the vast majority of whom authorities said were women. Of the arrests, 334 were for human trafficking and 690 for associated crimes.
Interpol, which coordinated the effort alongside the EU’s agency for law enforcement cooperation Europol and European border agency Frontex, said the operation’s findings had exposed evolving trafficking routes and methods.
It found an emerging trend of Latin American victims being trafficked for forced labour in Europe, with about 10% of identified victims being minors from the Americas who were subjected to sexual exploitation.
As part of the operation, authorities in Colombia launched an airport prevention campaign to raise awareness about the risks of fraudulent job offers abroad.
Interpol said Brazil’s Federal Police had identified 406 victims – 83 Brazilians and 323 foreign nationals – of a transnational network trafficking victims to Cambodia where they were forced into online scamming.
Interpol notices have been issued targeting wanted suspects and persons of interest.
It also said two Bolivian child victims who were forced to work in a grocery store were rescued by Argentinian police, with arrests made.
Separately, Belgian authorities arrested 17 suspects after dismantling a trafficking network that allegedly held victims recruited via social media captive, and forced them into prostitution rings across Belgium and France.
The operation, which took place between 8 and 12 June, was conducted by 40,000 officers across countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
It found that most of the victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation, while 20% were forced into criminality, 11% were forced into labour and 2% into forced begging.
Interpol said victims identified during the operation had been referred to national protection and support services, while 465 investigations had been launched as a result.
An additional 201 suspects were also identified in the operation. Countries including the UK, the US, France, Germany, Spain, Nigeria, Thailand and Vietnam took part in the operation.
Interpol Secretary Valdecy Urquiza said human trafficking remained “one of the most profitable and pervasive forms” of organised crimes, generating billions in illicit revenue each year.
He added that the crime caused “severe and lasting harm to victims”, saying the operation’s results “demonstrate what can be achieved when countries work together to disrupt criminal networks and strengthen cooperation across regions”.
By BBC News
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