law enforcement
Europol takes down human trafficking gang
Europol has taken down a highly organised crime group linked to human trafficking. Based in the UK and Slovakia, the criminal gang is suspected of trafficking people, including children for proposed exploitation in forced labour and social benefit fraud.
During a co-ordinated Day of Action, 14 house searches were conducted, 50 potential victims of trafficking were safeguarded and 24 suspects arrested.
Members of the organised crime group allegedly recruited significant numbers of Slovak nationals using promises of well-paid jobs in the UK. The victims were subsequently trafficked to these shores.
UK authorities initiated the investigation after receiving intelligence on an extensive labour exploitation network from the Human Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Slovak National Department for Combating Illegal Migration.
Europol deployed mobile officers and forensic analysis tools to cross-check data in real time. Support from Europol and the Slovak authorities was assessed as being critical to the success of this operation.
In the UK, Northumbria Police and the North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU) made four arrests, with Leicestershire Police making six arrests.
Cambridgeshire Police and the East Regional Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) were responsible for carrying out 13 arrests while the National Crime Agency made one arrest in the Leicestershire area.
Caroline Young, deputy director of the NCA’s Organised Crime Command, said: “This co-ordinated activity highlights close collaboration realised between the National Crime Agency, local Police forces, the Gangmasters Licencing Authority, Regional Organised Crime Units and our international partners, Europol and the Slovak Police, to investigate suspected labour exploitation and human trafficking within the UK.
These close working relationships help us to tackle the organised crime groups who think they can exploit people for profit. We’ll continue to work together, sharing intelligence and knowledge such that we can hold offenders to account and safeguard victims.”
Europol’s deputy director of operations, Wil van Gemert, added: ‘This action sends the clear message that Europol and its partners are determined to pursue criminals involved in human trafficking. Europol strongly supports EU Member States’ investigations in this area, and we will continue our efforts in fighting this crime. Forced labour and human trafficking violate the Human Rights and dignity of millions of people. By working together, and promoting fast and effective international law enforcement co-operation, we can eradicate this form of modern slavery.”
