An international law enforcement operation has resulted in over 1,000 arrests and the identification of more than 2,000 victims of human trafficking, Interpol announced. The coordinated effort, involving 40,000 officers across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, took place between June 8 and June 12.
Authorities rescued 2,070 victims or potential victims, with the vast majority identified as women trafficked for sexual exploitation. The operation also revealed that 20% of victims were forced into criminality, 11% into forced labor, and 2% into forced begging. Among the rescued were two child victims in Argentina who were forced to work in a grocery store.
In one instance, Belgian authorities arrested 17 suspects after dismantling a network that allegedly recruited victims through social media and forced them into prostitution rings spanning Belgium and France. Countries participating in the operation included the UK, the US, France, Germany, Spain, Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam.
As a result of the crackdown, 465 investigations have been launched, and an additional 201 suspects have been identified. Interpol Secretary Valdecy Urquiza highlighted human trafficking as a highly profitable and pervasive form of organized crime, generating billions in illicit revenue annually and causing severe harm to victims. Urquiza emphasized that the operation's success demonstrates the effectiveness of international cooperation in disrupting criminal networks and enhancing cross-regional collaboration.