More than 150 arrested in global human trafficking control

International repression of human trafficking has led to over 150 arrests and the identification of over 1000 casualties.

The six -day operation, which took place in early June, included nearly 15,000 officers from 43 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, according to Interpol.

It is aimed at organized criminal gangs involved in trafficking in human beings – who are usually minors – for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced crime and begging, Europol said.

Many victims of sexual exploitation are women who are usually prescribed from abroad and are taken to salon massages where they are under pressure in prostitution.

“Traffic of people is a brutal and devastating crime that undresses people from their dignity, freedom and humanity by dealing with the most vulnerable, including children,” says David Kaner, director of an organized and emerging crime in Interpol.

The operation – called the Global Chain – made a total of 158 arrests and identified another 205 suspects until 1194 potential victims were found.

He was led by Austrian and Romanian authorities and focused mainly on Europe – but he also saw suspects arrested in Thailand, Nigeria and Vietnam.

Malta police released three Colombian women – two sisters and their aunt – who were originally offered to work as cleaning products there by an Italian citizen, Europol reported.

After their arrival, their passports were confiscated by the undercover suspect to organize work permits, after which it was used to attach them to prostitution, the agency added.

In Austria, officers have made seven arrests in connection with a Romanian family band, which supposedly uses the “lover” method to lure women in sexual exploitation and forced crime under the claim of a romantic relationship.

And in Italy, police have attacked several massage salons with suspected sexual exploitation relationships, identifying 75 potential victims of traffic, according to Interpol.

The potential victims of trafficking are descended from 64 countries around the world, but the majority comes from Romania, Ukraine, Colombia, China and Hungary, officials said.

The operation also features EUR 277 669 (£ 240 351) in cash, as well as 30 guns, 65 fraudulent documents and tonne cannabis.

Such an operation took place around the same time last year, which led to the arrest of 200 suspects and the identification of more than 1,300 casualties.