In a major international crackdown, 1,194 victims of human trafficking were rescued and 158 suspects arrested last month, according to the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).
The coordinated operation, named “Global Chain”, took place across 42 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas during June, with over 15,000 police officers involved. Europol highlighted that many victims were trafficked across borders and continents, underscoring the truly global scale of human trafficking networks.
Major Findings
Investigations revealed that most adult victims were exploited sexually, while minors were often forced into begging, petty crime, and other criminal activities.
The operation was supported by Europol, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and INTERPOL, leading to 182 new investigations. A coordination center was set up at Frontex headquarters in Warsaw, Poland, involving representatives from 33 countries, to speed up real-time information sharing.
🎯 158 human traffickers arrested and 1 194 victims safeguarded in global human trafficking operation codenamed ‘Global Chain’ – the crackdown focused on trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced criminality and forced begging.
More ⤵️https://t.co/UgpMXmqOWe pic.twitter.com/zGgJK4bJvd
— Europol (@Europol) July 11, 2025
Key Operations
-
Austria: Police arrested seven suspects from a Romanian criminal network and rescued eight women. The traffickers allegedly lured victims into false romantic relationships before forcing them into prostitution.
-
Brazil: Federal police dismantled a trafficking ring that recruited victims with fake job offers, sending them to Myanmar for sexual exploitation.
-
Thailand: Police arrested 12 suspects linked to a child sex trafficking network operating via a popular social media platform.
Rising Global Concern
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that human trafficking increased significantly since 2020 due to armed conflicts, climate-related disasters, and global instability. According to UNODC’s 2024 Global Report, known victims rose from 48,000 in 2020 to about 70,000 in 2022.
Europol emphasized the need for ongoing international cooperation to dismantle trafficking networks and protect vulnerable victims worldwide.
