158 Human Traffickers Arrested and 1,194 Victims Safeguarded in Global Operation
1/1/20263 min read
A major international crackdown on human trafficking has resulted in the arrest of 158 suspects and the safeguarding of 1,194 potential victims, authorities announced following a coordinated global operation codenamed Global Chain. An additional 205 suspects have been identified as part of ongoing investigations.
The operation targeted trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and forced begging, with a particular focus on underage victims. It took place from 1 to 6 June 2025 and was led by law enforcement authorities in Austria and Romania, with coordination and support from Europol, Frontex, and INTERPOL.
A Global Law Enforcement Effort
Nearly 15,000 officers from 43 countries participated in the operation, including police, border guards, labour inspectorates, and tax and customs authorities. Potential victims were identified across 64 countries, with the largest numbers originating from Romania, Ukraine, Colombia, China, and Hungary.
Investigators found that many victims had been trafficked across borders and continents, underlining the global scale and complexity of human trafficking networks. Authorities noted that the majority of victims of sexual exploitation were adult women, while child victims were more commonly exploited for forced begging and forced criminal activity, such as pickpocketing. In several cases, children were exploited by family members, making identification and protection particularly challenging.
Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Deputy Executive Director of Europol’s Operations Directorate, said the results demonstrated the importance of international cooperation.
“Close and effective cooperation between international law enforcement and border authorities remains essential in protecting those who are most vulnerable to exploitation. The outcomes of this year’s operation ‘Global Chain’ are not just statistics—each individual safeguarded represents an invaluable success.”
Operational Highlights Across Countries
Austria and Romania
Austrian authorities arrested seven suspected traffickers and safeguarded eight women, dismantling a Romanian family-based organised crime group operating across multiple EU countries. Victims were recruited using the so-called “lover-boy method” and forced into prostitution, fraud, theft, and robbery.
Romanian police arrested nine individuals for trafficking eight children aged 7 to 15 for forced begging, following house searches and witness interviews.
Italy and Malta
Italian police raided multiple massage parlours linked to sexual exploitation, identifying 75 potential victims from Romania, China, and Colombia. Authorities seized drugs, firearms, and several apartments used for forced prostitution.
In Malta, police rescued three Colombian women who were coerced into prostitution after having their passports confiscated under the pretext of arranging work permits.
Balkans and Eastern Europe
In Albania, authorities safeguarded three Chinese victims of sexual exploitation who had been recruited in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before being trafficked to Albania. One trafficker was arrested and another declared wanted.
In Greece and Montenegro, several suspects were arrested for exploiting their own children or relatives for forced begging, including victims as young as two or three years old.
Hungarian police uncovered a case involving a 15-year-old girl forced into prostitution by her family. Her father was arrested, and the victim was placed in child protection care.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, authorities intervened in a case of forced child marriage linked to financial exploitation and arrested traffickers involved in sexual exploitation of women from China and Brazil.
Beyond Europe
Ukrainian authorities dismantled a network recruiting women for sexual exploitation in Germany, while Brazilian federal police shut down a trafficking ring that sent victims to Myanmar under false job promises.
Thai police dismantled an online prostitution ring involving minors, rescuing two victims aged 14 and 17 and arresting 12 suspects, including seven on human trafficking charges.
Significant Seizures and Follow-Up Investigations
During the operation, authorities seized:
EUR 277,669 in cash
1 tonne of cannabis
899 units of other narcotics
30 firearms and 15 explosive components
65 fraudulent documents
5 real estate properties
The operation led to the launch of 182 new investigations. A coordination centre was established at Frontex headquarters in Warsaw, staffed by officials from 33 countries, enabling real-time intelligence sharing and operational support.
An International Response to an International Crime
Operation Global Chain was carried out under the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and received funding from multiple international initiatives, including INTERPOL’s I-FORCE Project, the German Federal Foreign Office, and EU-supported regional programmes. This year also marked the first participation of AMERIPOL, strengthening cooperation with Latin American law enforcement.
Authorities stressed that the operation reflects a growing recognition that human trafficking is a transnational crime requiring sustained, coordinated global action—not only to dismantle criminal networks, but to identify, protect, and support victims.