A recent global operation spearheaded by Interpol resulted in the arrest of more than 3,700 suspects involved in human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Over 4,400 potential trafficking victims were rescued worldwide as part of this coordinated effort.
Interpol’s Operation Liberterra III, carried out by 14,000 officers across 119 countries from Nov. 10 to Nov. 21, saw significant outcomes, including the protection of 4,414 potential victims and the identification of 12,992 individuals caught in illegal migration activities. This international initiative also led to the initiation of at least 720 new investigations.
According to Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, criminal networks are constantly evolving and exploiting new avenues, such as digital platforms and vulnerable populations. By recognizing these changing patterns, law enforcement agencies can preempt threats, disrupt criminal networks, and provide better protection for victims.
Notable cases highlighted by Interpol involved South Americans and Asians in Africa, indicating a shift in human trafficking dynamics compared to previous trends where African victims were mainly trafficked abroad. The organization also emphasized the prevalence of trafficking scams, particularly along dangerous coastal routes in countries like Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, and Algeria, as well as through land networks in Peru, Brazil, and other nations.
Efforts in West and Central African countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, led to the rescue of over 200 victims and the dismantling of multiple recruitment and exploitation hubs. Interpol noted that in Africa, victims are often lured under the guise of foreign job opportunities, with traffickers charging exorbitant fees and coercing victims to recruit others in a pyramid scheme fashion.
Moreover, recent cybercrime crackdowns in Africa resulted in the apprehension of 1,209 suspects who targeted 88,000 individuals, while a raid in Myanmar uncovered 450 workers in exploitative conditions, according to Interpol.