Europol: more than 1,000 arrests in global operation against human trafficking

Europol has assisted a global operation against human trafficking conducted by 59 countries, including in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, resulting in the detection of 2,070 potential victims and the arrest of 1,024 suspects, 334 of which are suspected of human trafficking, the EU agency announced on 6 July.

As part of ongoing investigations, an additional 201 human trafficking suspects have also been detected. 

This year’s edition of the annual effort took place from 8 to 12 June 2026 with coordination and support from Europol, Frontex, and INTERPOL. The crackdown, code-named ‘Operation GLOBAL CHAIN’, focused on trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and forced begging, with a special focus on underage victims.

Investigative results indicate that the vast majority of victims are female and adult, with 64.2% trafficked for sexual exploitation (20.9% forced criminality, 11.3% forced labour, 1.5% forced begging, 2.1% other forms). The percentage of underage victims trafficked for sexual exploitation is even higher with 86.4% (6.2% forced labour, 3% forced begging, around 0.6% forced criminal activity such as pickpocketing, 3.8% other forms).

The operation engaged over 40,000 officers from 59 different countries and involved law enforcement, border guards, labour inspectorates, and tax- and customs authorities. Potential victims were reported from 45 different countries, with a majority from Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Nepal, and Moldova. Many of the victims had been trafficked across borders, and even continents, demonstrating the global nature of human trafficking schemes.

In Moldova, authorities dismantled a sexual exploitation ring led by a former gendarme and his fiancée, who recruited three underage victims (aged 16-17) from economically vulnerable backgrounds. The victims were coerced into prostitution through manipulation, financial control, and threats, advertised online, and subjected to daily exploitation with minimal earnings. The accused were arrested and are awaiting trial, while victims received psychological support.

Ukrainian authorities charged two individuals with labour exploitation offences involving 13 disabled residents of a rehabilitation centre in the Vinnytsia region. The suspects allegedly forced vulnerable residents into labour.

In Kyiv, authorities dismantled a criminal group of four suspects involved in labour exploitation. The alleged criminals recruited, transported, and exploited victims through deception, coercion, and abuse of their vulnerable status. Twelve victims were rescued and assisted.

Operation GLOBAL CHAIN was carried out under the framework of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). The operation also received funding from Frontex.

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Press release