**Global Trafficking Sting Leads to Over 150 Arrests and 1,000 Victims Identified**

A large-scale crackdown on human trafficking has successfully apprehended key criminals and rescued potential victims worldwide.

An extensive international effort against human trafficking has culminated in the arrest of over 150 individuals and the identification of more than 1,000 victims of this heinous crime. Conducted over six days at the beginning of June, the operation involved nearly 15,000 police officers from 43 countries spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, according to Interpol.

The operation, named "Global Chain," was aimed at dismantling organized criminal networks that trafficking vulnerable individuals—often minors—for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and street begging. According to Europol, a significant number of the victims of sexual exploitation are women recruited from various countries and coerced into prostitution under the deceptive guise of employment, often in massage parlors.

David Caunter, director of organized and emerging crime at Interpol, emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating, "Human trafficking is a brutal and devastating crime that strips people of their dignity, freedom, and humanity, preying on the most vulnerable, including children."

In total, the operation led to 158 arrests and the identification of 205 additional suspects, while 1,194 potential victims were discovered. This operation, primarily directed by Austrian and Romanian authorities, pursued its targets predominantly in Europe but also resulted in arrests in countries including Thailand, Nigeria, and Vietnam.

Among the notable rescues was the liberation of three Colombian women in Malta—two sisters and their aunt—who were misled by an Italian national who provided them with job offers as cleaners. Upon their arrival, their passports were seized under the pretense of obtaining work permits, forcing them into prostitution.

Furthermore, authorities in Austria arrested seven members of a Romanian family-based gang that reportedly exploited women using the "lover-boy" tactic, deceiving them into romantic relationships to facilitate their trafficking. In Italy, police conducted raids on several massage parlors suspected of links to trafficking, uncovering 75 potential victims, according to Interpol.

The operation revealed that potential trafficking victims hailed from 64 countries, with the majority coming from Romania, Ukraine, Colombia, China, and Hungary. Law enforcement officials seized €277,669 (£240,351) in cash, along with 30 firearms, 65 counterfeit documents, and a ton of cannabis during the operation.

This crackdown follows a similar initiative last year, which resulted in the arrest of 200 suspects and the identification of over 1,300 victims, signifying an ongoing challenge in combating human trafficking globally.