Author: Vassilia Orfanou, PhD, Post Doc
Writes for the Headline Diplomat eMagazine, LUDCI.eu
Introduction:
Eurojust and Europol have teamed up with judicial and law enforcement authorities from different countries in Europe to take down organized crime groups (OCGs) involved in human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Through coordinated efforts and joint operations, these entities have been able to make significant progress in combating this illegal and abhorrent industry. In this article, we will look at three cases where Eurojust and Europol have worked with various European authorities to bring down criminal networks.
Case 1: Romania, Ireland, and the UK
In the first case, Eurojust and Europol collaborated with judicial and law enforcement authorities in Romania, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The operation involved the dismantling of a criminal network that had been involved in human trafficking and sexual exploitation, as well as money laundering and pimping. The OCG allegedly recruited young Romanian women, some of whom were minors, and transported them to Ireland and the UK where they were sexually exploited. The prostitution services were advertised on dedicated escort websites and took place in rented apartments in different cities. The organized crime group had been active since 2017.
During the joint action day, 12 suspects were charged, and five of them were detained while four were put under judicial control. Eurojust provided support to organize and fund a joint investigation team (JIT) into the case and facilitated judicial cross-border cooperation. A total of 19 house searches were performed, two in Ireland and 17 in Romania. During the searches, several things were retrieved such as cards, laptops, and mobile phones. Six properties, six premium cars, luxury vehicles, and more than €22,500 in cash were frozen.
“It is believed that the prostitution activities generated large sums of money that were used by the suspects to finance their luxurious lifestyles and to purchase valuable assets,” said the Eurojust statement. “Profits were laundered through banks and other money transfer services to conceal their illicit origin.”
Case 2: Czech Republic and Finland
In the second case, Eurojust and Europol worked with judicial and law enforcement authorities in the Czech Republic and Finland to dismantle a human trafficking network. The criminal network had been operating since 2019 and was involved in trafficking in human beings with the aim of sexual exploitation. The interconnected OCGs allegedly recruited women in the Czech Republic and forced them into prostitution in different locations in the Czech Republic and Finland. The OCGs were properly organized with a clear distribution of duties. The suspects organized the transport and accommodation of the victims, advertised their services on dedicated escort websites, and communicated with the customers.
During the operation, 13 suspects were arrested in three joint actions, and more than 90 victims were saved. A total of €200,000 in cash, three apartments, four luxury vehicles, and other valuable things were confiscated. “Perpetrators could book the victims in advance, while rotation systems – also known as ‘sex tours’ or ‘carousels’ – allowed for the exploited to be offered in various locations,” said the Europol statement. “The investigation into the results of this operation is still ongoing, as the total number of victims of Czech, Hungarian, and Romanian nationality counted is more than 400.”
Case 3: Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Spain
In the third case, Europol and Eurojust collaborated with German, Belgian, Polish, and Spanish authorities to take action against an OCG involved in the trafficking of Chinese women for sexual exploitation in Belgium and other European countries. The OCG allegedly recruited women in China and transported them to Europe where they were forced into sexual exploitation. Like other crime groups that were dismantled, this OCG also allowed customers to book their appointments on websites specialized in sex advertising.
On February 7, during the joint operation which is one of the biggest successes against Chinese human trafficking in Europe, 28 suspects were arrested, and 34 searches conducted. The house searches were performed in Belgium (Antwerp, Brussels, and Charleroi) and Spain (Alicante and Barcelona). Earlier, seven members of the Criminal Group were arrested in May 2022.
A total of twenty suspects were arrested. Among those arrested in Belgium were five Chinese nationals considered high-value targets by Europol because of their involvement in different high-profile cases in Europe.
According to Eurojust, “the modus operandi of the OCG, the arrests were made during several coordinated strikes across the participating countries, and a significant amount of evidence was seized, including luxury vehicles, cash, electronic devices, and firearms.
“The suspects were using physical and psychological violence to maintain control over the victims and to make sure that they would continue to work in prostitution,” said Eurojust in a statement. “It is also believed that the criminal network used fraudulent documents to transport the women across borders, making it difficult for law enforcement to track their movements and activities.”
Conclusion:
The successful dismantling of these organized crime groups by Eurojust and Europol highlights the importance of international cooperation and joint efforts in combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Europe. The coordinated actions of these entities, together with the judicial and law enforcement authorities from different countries, have helped bring perpetrators to justice, rescued victims, and prevented further harm.
However, there is still much work to be done in the fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and Eurojust and Europol remain committed to working with their partners to dismantle criminal networks involved in these heinous crimes.
Featured photo: Emma Bauso, Pexels
