In Bangladesh, the route to Europe is known as "the game". With the help of a dalaal -- a travel agent -- many Bangladeshis hope to make it to a country where jobs are plentiful and they can earn money to send home. But now the international crime agency Interpol is seeking to crack down on the kingpin Bangladeshi smugglers in Libya and a warrant is out for their arrest.
An armed group in Libya is reported to have kidnapped 60 migrants — including two dozen children — about two weeks ago. They are holding them hostage in "appalling living conditions," according to the latest statement from Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Four men are due to go on trial in Britain on Monday in connection with the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants whose bodies were found in a lorry in southeast England.
A court in Vietnam sentenced four people to several years in prison over their involvement in the deaths of 39 migrants, whose bodies were found in the back of a truck outside London last October.
Italian authorities arrested the four trafficking suspects in three operations at the border with Slovenia last week. The suspects were reportedly transporting irregular migrants into Italy in vans and cars. Police charged them with facilitating illegal immigration.
Many Africans desperate to improve their lives are falling into the traps of human trafficking networks. Recruitment agencies send migrant workers to Gulf countries, where most of them work under inhumane conditions. Human trafficking is a global problem that affects an estimated 40 million people. On this week's 77 Percent show, young people share some their experiences and lessons learnt.
German police have raided 26 premises across the country on Wednesday during an operation to dismantle human trafficking rings. Three suspects have been detained, who are alleged to have links to a criminal group run by a 65-year-old Kosovan national, who was also arrested.
Tunisian authorities in recent days have stopped various attempts by migrants to illegally depart for Europe. During their operations, the authorities also seized cash linked to criminal activity.
Police in France and Belgium have arrested more than two dozen suspects over the deaths last year of 39 Vietnamese migrants in the UK. The suspects are accused of belonging to an illegal smuggling organization.
Will irregular migration to Europe increase again once COVID-19 related travel restrictions are lifted? Europol thinks so. In a new report, the European Union's policing agency also said the coronavirus pandemic is already changing migrant smuggling and trafficking.
Close to 1,800 unaccompanied child migrants and refugees are missing in Germany, according to German media reports. The government warns that they could fall victim to human traffickers.
Border police in northwestern Italy arrested 10 people who allegedly took undocumented migrants from Italy to France at least 16 times.