Global raids rescue 3,200 potential victims of trafficking and identify 17,800 irregular migrants

GLASGOW, United Kingdom - INTERPOL today is releasing preliminary results of its largest-ever operation against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, carried out across 116 countries and territories.

Operation Liberterra II (29 September to 4 October) led to the rescue of 3,222 potential victims of human trafficking and identified 17,793 irregular migrants.

Authorities around the world conducted police raids, reinforced strategic border points, monitored nearly 24,000 flights and deployed officers to known trafficking and smuggling hotspots. Globally, nearly 8 million checks were carried out against INTERPOL's databases.

A total of 2,517 arrests were made during the week - 850 of which were specifically on human trafficking or migrant smuggling charges.

Operational coordination units were set up in Argentina, Senegal, the Philippines and North Macedonia to assess intelligence and facilitate cooperation between countries within their respective regions and beyond. The operation also saw an unprecedented level of support from 15 specialized units from INTERPOL's General Secretariat, partner organizations, national agencies and NGOs.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

"In their relentless pursuit of profit, organized crime groups continue to exploit men, women and children -often multiple times over. While still preliminary, the results of this operation highlight the vast scale of the challenge facing law enforcement, underscoring that only coordinated action can counteract these threats."

INTERPOL's Executive Director of Police Services, Stephen Kavanagh said:

"Beyond providing a snapshot of global trafficking and migration trends, the operation served as a vital capacity building opportunity for countries, fostering relationships between specialized units, and enhancing cross-agency collaboration."

Trafficking-fuelled fraud

The week-long operation uncovered dozens of cases in which trafficking victims were deceived and coerced into committing fraud, marking a clear departure from traditional trafficking patterns, where human exploitation is the sole criminal objective.

Targeting online scam centres using human trafficking victims has been an operational priority since INTERPOL issued an Orange Notice warning its membership of this growing and globalizing trend. In many of these cases victims are lured with false promises of employment and are kept there through intimidation and abuse.

In the Philippines, for example, officers raided a warehouse where more than 250 people, mostly Chinese nationals, were running romance scams on an industrial scale. Officers are now combing through seized devices and carrying out interviews to separate the potential victims of trafficking from members of the criminal enterprise.

On the other side of the world, in West and Central Africa, officers uncovered eight separate cases, involving multiple victims forced into exploitative pyramid schemes. Once recruited, they were transported across borders and held against their will, often suffering physical and psychological abuse.

In one instance, 24 Togolese victims were safeguarded in Mali. The women had been promised employment in locations as far away as North America, but instead, they were charged "recruitment fees" of up to USD 6,000 to operate a multi-level marketing scheme. They were then forced to target family and friends to join as well. So far, 10 arrests have been made.

Polycriminal groups: drugs, cash and weapons

Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are increasingly linked to other forms of crime, often using the same criminal networks and routes. This overlap amplifies profits and power for organized crime groups, making enforcement more complex. The need for a whole-of-crime approach was evident throughout the operation week.

In Brazil, an earlier drug trafficking investigation uncovered a migrant smuggling operation led by the same criminal group. That investigation led them to the arrest of a city council candidate and his associate for smuggling 70 migrants into the United States. In the process, they seized USD 750,000 linked to the operation.

Serbian police arrested 12 suspects linked to two organized criminal groups which facilitated the journeys of at least 178 irregular migrants through Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Police also seized cash, firearms and drugs.

Chilean and Paraguayan authorities worked together to break up a polycriminal group involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering. The group allegedly transported victims into Chile, where they were taken to different cities for sexual exploitation. Four suspects were arrested and 23 victims were rescued and supported.

Additional cases:

• In Argentina, authorities rescued 59 human trafficking victims, including 14 minors, who were forced to work on fruit and vegetable farms. Officials seized shotguns, pistols, ammunition and USD 200,000 in cash.
• Seven suspects were arrested in Algeria on money laundering charges in connection with organizing migrant smuggling. The operation resulted in the seizure of 320,000 dinars (USD 2,400) and several cell phones.

Human trafficking: A global phenomenon

Following raids on houses, businesses and nightclubs in North Macedonia, 13 suspects were arrested on charges of human trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering. The 32 potential victims identified during the raids - all women - were mostly from abroad, including Albania, Colombia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.

Additional cases:

• In Costa Rica, the female leader of a sect was arrested on suspicion of forced labour, child exploitation, emotional and physical abuse. Those recruited were made to take vows of poverty and silence, while top members lived a life of luxury, with high-end vehicles and multiple properties.
• In Syria, authorities identified a group of doctors suspected of organ trafficking.
• In Iraq, 25 people were arrested in connection with a trafficking ring involved in forced begging.
• Ethiopian national authorities arrested a 26-year-old man for recruiting seven victims into domestic servitude in the Middle East, where they were held for weeks, mistreated and starved.

Migrant smuggling: Exploiting the desire for a better life

Analysis of migrant flows is ongoing, but of note was the increasing number of Asian migrants, particularly Vietnamese, detected in the Americas during the operational week. Venezuelan nationals, however, remain the largest group of irregular migrants reported by participating countries, with most migrating to North and South America.

Tunisian authorities intercepted 27 individuals, including 21 minors, attempting to travel to the United Kingdom under the pretense of a language study trip. Coordination with INTERPOL's National Central Bureau in Manchester helped identify three suspects in the UK, who have now been referred for prosecution on smuggling charges.

In Kenya, the Transnational Organized Crime Unit arrested two suspects accused of exploiting Ethiopian migrants, uncovering around 100 victims confined in a four-bedroom house. The victims reported being beaten and coerced into contacting family members for money.

Additional cases:

• UK authorities located and identified a Syrian man wanted by Romania for illegally transporting migrants from Bulgaria to Romania, for onward travel to the Netherlands.
• In Türkiye, authorities detected and safeguarded approximately 1,500 irregular migrants, arresting 94 suspected smugglers.
• Authorities in Montenegro arrested 11 members of an organized group suspected of smuggling 350 migrants from Asia into the European Union. Police recovered cash, phones, vehicles, asylum documents and foreign passports.

Focus on sustainable partnerships and cooperation

The operation sought to ensure the widest possible participation and ensure long-term investigative capacity. It was supported by 11 projects which are funded by:

• The European Commission
• The European Union
• Global Affairs Canada
• The United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
• The German Federal Foreign Office
• The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Throughout the week, participating countries were able to directly benefit from the expertise, resources, and coordinated actions of specialized projects and international organizations. Additional support was provided by:

• Afripol
• CARICOM IMPACS
• Europol
• EU4FAST
• Frontex
• International Organization for Migration
• The Regional Support Office of the Bali Process
• ROCK (Regional Operational Center in Khartoum in support of the Khartoum Process and AU-Horn of Africa initiative)
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Participating countries and territories:

Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Benin, Bermuda (UK), Bolivia, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cayman Islands (UK), Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte D'ivoire, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Congo (Democratic Rep.), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, St Lucia, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turks & Caicos (UK), Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

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