Europol reported 1,024 arrests in 59 countries as a result of an operation against human trafficking

Europol reported 1,024 arrests in 59 countries as a result of an operation against human trafficking

A global crackdown on human trafficking across 59 countries resulted in the arrest of 1,024 suspects and the detection of 2,070 potential victims, Europol stated Monday.

Coordinated alongside Frontex and INTERPOL between June 8 and 12, Operation "Global Chain" mobilized over 40,000 law enforcement officers to target criminal networks involved in sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and forced begging. Authorities checked over half a million individuals, opened 465 new criminal investigations, and identified 334 suspects directly tied to human trafficking.

According to the agency, the vast majority of the victims were adult females, with 64.2 percent trafficked for sexual exploitation. That rate jumped to 86.4 percent for the 162 identified underage victims, who authorities noted are often exploited by their own family members. Victims originated from 45 different countries—predominantly Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Nepal, and Moldova—highlighting the highly transnational nature of modern trafficking schemes.