Following an international manhunt led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an Eritrean man described as one of "the world's most wanted" human traffickers has been arrested in Sudan. Interpol said that the suspect, Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, had a reputation for being "particularly cruel and violent against migrants."
Authorities in Portugal have arrested a total of 35 people on human trafficking charges in addition to allegations of money laundering and falsifying documents. Dozens of migrants were reported to have fallen prey to the trafficking ring.
A 35-year-old Eritrean man wanted by Italian authorities on human trafficking charges has been arrested in Ethiopia and extradited to Italy. Ghebremedin Temeschen Ghebru was wanted for over a year as the alleged leader of a "transnational association operating between Central Africa, Maghreb countries, Italy and Northern Europe" for migrant trafficking, Italian police said.
Authorities in Cyprus have reportedly remanded five Syrian nationals on suspicion of trafficking migrants. The arrests came after a police patrol boat picked up 32 Syrian migrants and the alleged traffickers from the sea when they suffered shipwreck.
The majority of people leaving Ukraine towards the European Union are women and children. Travelling under difficult circumstances, there is a danger of people going missing or being separated while on the road. In this article, you will find practical advice how to stay safe from human traffickers, if you are fleeing the war in Ukraine.
UNICEF is sounding the alarm over the risks associated with human trafficking for women and children fleeing the war in Ukraine. The UN estimates nearly 10 million Ukrainians have now been displaced. Pope Francis, in his Angelus prayer, called for their protection.
In Poland, officials have begun seeing signs that gangs may be preying on vulnerable women and children fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The migrants were found dead in a refrigerated truck in the United Kingdom in 2019.
Farm laborers from Asia flock to the European country known for its booming agricultural exports. The workers are often brought by gangs of traffickers and are forced to endure inhumane living conditions.
Migrant smuggling is a global crime that exposes migrants to life-threatening risks. The EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum puts preventing and combating smuggling at the center of its comprehensive approach to migration.
The Save the Children organization has said that there are at least 1,660 victims of human trafficking in Italy, with ever more minors falling victim to the phenomenon.
The EU border agency Frontex has denied having documented any "collusion" between NGOs and human traffickers. French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner had claimed earlier in the week that Frontex knew of NGOs aiding smugglers.