Operations to curb human trafficking

Operations with a long-term impact

INTERPOL-coordinated operations are built to empower national police forces with the skills and international network required to take on human trafficking.

Actions in the field are preceded by training workshops to ensure that officers on the ground are trained in a range of skills, including interview techniques and the use of INTERPOL’s tools and databases.

Deployments effectively combine police action with input from a number of different actors such as customs and environmental officers, non-governmental organizations, officials from the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs, and prosecutors.

Operation Sawiyan 2018

In Sudan, 94 victims, including 85 minors, were rescued from criminal networks involved in illegal migration, child labour and exploitation, and forced begging.

Human trafficking: 100 victims rescued in Sudan

10 September 2018

Many of the minors rescued during Operation Sawiyan were discovered working under extreme conditions in illegally-operated gold mines.

Operation Libertad 2018

Nearly 350 potential victims of sexual exploitation and forced labour were in an INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting human trafficking in the Americas.

Americas: Hundreds of human trafficking victims rescued

30 April 2018

Operation Libertad (3 – 9 April) was held across 13 countries in the Carribean, Central and South America.

22 suspected traffickers were arrested during Operation Libertad.

Social services and NGOs were involved in conducting post-operation interviews and providing support.

Night raids were held in bars and night clubs.

Victim interviews are a crucial part of human trafficking investigations.

Behind every victim of human trafficking, there is an intensely personal story.

In Guyana, young women were found working as prostitutes next to extremely remote gold mines.

Men and women, including minors, were discovered working in night clubs, farms, mines, factories and open-air markets.

Officers in Aruba prepare to carry out coastal operations.

Officers were sent to border points in Turks and Caicos.

Night raids were carried out in Saint Lucia.

Police in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines raided a factory.

Support was provided by the INTERPOL Command and Coordination Centre.

Operation Libertad was held under the INTERPOL Project to Combat Human Trafficking in the Caribbean, funded by the Government of Canada.

Specialized officers from INTERPOL’s Trafficking in Human Beings unit deployed to the region.

More than 500 police officers participated in the operation across 13 countries.

Computer equipment, mobiles phones and cash were also seized.

Operation Libertad 2018

Operation Libertad 2018

Operation Libertad 2018

Operation Libertad 2018

Operation Libertad 2018

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Opération Epervier 2017

Nearly 500 victims of human trafficking, including 236 minors, were rescued simultaneously across Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.

Operation Adwenpa II 2016

This border security operation across West Africa resulted in the arrest of human traffickers, migrant smugglers and the seizure of drugs, stolen vehicles, cash and counterfeit goods. More than 100 frontline officers used INTERPOL global policing capabilities to identify criminals, victims and illicit goods at 28 key border control points across 14 countries.

Operation Akoma 2015

More than 48 children were rescued and 22 people arrested following an operation targeting child trafficking and exploitation in Côte d’Ivoire.

Operation Nawa 2014

76 children believed to have been trafficked across West Africa for the purposes of illegal child labour were rescued in Côte d’Ivoire.