Over 2,000 found trapped in modern slavery as networks dismantled across 59 countries
Over 1,000 people have been arrested after a global raid spanning 59 countries uncovered more than 2,000 people trapped in modern slavery.
The operation, coordinated by Interpol, targeted trafficking networks involved in sexual exploitation, forced labor, forced criminality, and forced begging.
Global raid exposes widespread exploitation
Operation Global Chain, which took place over 5 days in June, brought together around 40,000 officers across Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Among the major breakthroughs was the dismantling of a trafficking network in Cambodia which forced people into online scam operations. Brazil’s Federal Police identified 406 victims linked to the network, including 323 foreign nationals.
In Europe, Belgian authorities arrested 17 suspects accused of recruiting underage girls through social media. The suspects allegedly forced the girls into prostitution networks operating across Belgium and France.
In Argentina, police rescued two Bolivian children who had allegedly been forced to work in a grocery store.
The BBC reports:
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.
Investigators also uncovered a new trend: traffickers are moving Latin American victims to Europe for forced labor. Around 10% of those identified were minors from the Americas, whom traffickers had subjected to sexual exploitation.