\r\n\u00a9 2022<\/p>\r\n
Any use of Europol\u2019s logo requires prior written consent.<\/p>\r\n","footer-bottom-second":"
Europol is committed to user privacy. All personal data collected by Europol are processed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018\/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45\/2001 and Decision No 1247\/2002\/EC. We will handle all the information received from you confidentially. Confidentiality implies that your personal data will be disclosed only to authorised personnel of Europol. However, it may be necessary for the future investigation to inform the national competent authority concerned about the content of the information received from you and\/or your identity.<\/p>\r\n"},"terms":{"tags":[],"languages":[{"id":362,"title":"Bulgarian"},{"id":579,"title":"Gaelic"},{"id":574,"title":"Icelandic"},{"id":557,"title":"Luxembourgish"},{"id":580,"title":"Macedonian"},{"id":515,"title":"Norwegian"},{"id":516,"title":"Russian"},{"id":517,"title":"Ukranian"},{"id":363,"title":"Spanish"},{"id":364,"title":"Czech"},{"id":365,"title":"Danish"},{"id":366,"title":"German"},{"id":367,"title":"Estonian"},{"id":368,"title":"Greek"},{"id":369,"title":"English"},{"id":370,"title":"French"},{"id":371,"title":"Irish"},{"id":372,"title":"Italian"},{"id":373,"title":"Latvian"},{"id":374,"title":"Lithuanian"},{"id":375,"title":"Hungarian"},{"id":376,"title":"Maltese"},{"id":377,"title":"Dutch"},{"id":378,"title":"Polish"},{"id":379,"title":"Portuguese"},{"id":380,"title":"Romanian"},{"id":381,"title":"Slovak"},{"id":382,"title":"Slovene"},{"id":383,"title":"Finnish"},{"id":384,"title":"Swedish"},{"id":385,"title":"Croatian"},{"id":386,"title":"Other"}]}},"NodeLoader":{"node":{"id":5968,"type":"news","title":"30 arrested in crackdown on Chinese human trafficking ring in Spain and Croatia","alias":"\/media-press\/newsroom\/news\/30-arrested-in-crackdown-chinese-human-trafficking-ring-in-spain-and-croatia","published":1737988215,"navigation":{"previous":"\/media-press\/newsroom\/news\/23-underground-bankers-arrested","next":"\/media-press\/newsroom\/news\/europol-warns-consumers-to-be-mindful-about-fake-medicines-offered-online"},"updated":1738400401,"body":"
On 17 December, law enforcement conducted raids at 14 properties across Barcelona (4), Madrid (9), and Toledo (1) in Spain, and one property in Zagreb in Croatia. These operations resulted in 30 arrests, among which were the leaders of the criminal network. In addition, EUR 180 000 in cash was also seized, alongside weapons, 70 passports, equipment to falsify passports and visas, narcotic substances, 10 high-end vehicles and 33 mobile phones. A total of 33 victims \u2013 Chinese and Vietnamese nationals \u2013 were also safeguarded.<\/p>
This investigation builds on the dismantling of Europe\u2019s largest Chinese prostitution ring in February 2023<\/a>. Digital evidence seized during that operation has since then been meticulously analysed, including at a forensic sprint held at Europol\u2019s headquarters in March 2023<\/a>. During this sprint, experts from nine countries extracted tens of terabytes of data from hundreds of confiscated mobile phones.<\/p> The new intelligence provided unprecedented insights into the methods used by Chinese criminal networks in Europe, revealing a sophisticated division of labour and reliance on crime-as-a-service actors.<\/p> The criminal organisation, composed primarily of Chinese nationals, profited significantly from the sexual exploitation of vulnerable women. To maximise profits, the group engaged in additional criminal activities, including document fraud, money laundering, and the facilitation of illegal immigration.<\/p> Victims were lured into prostitution in Europe under the promise of earning high income within a short timeframe. However, upon arrival, they were subjected to severe debt bondage and trapped in a cycle of exploitation they were unable to escape due to their vulnerabilities and dependence on the traffickers.<\/p> The organisation operated in two interconnected cells:<\/p> The smuggling operations were meticulously coordinated through instant messaging apps, with facilitators managing safe houses along the route and providing instructions on victim transport. Upon arrival, victims were initially exploited in entry-point countries before being transferred to Spain and other EU Member States, where their exploitation continued under the strict control of the criminal group.<\/p> Victims trafficked by the group were identified in exploitation networks across multiple EU countries, underscoring the scale and resilience of this criminal network.<\/p> The operation was led by the Spanish National Police (Polic\u00eda Nacional<\/em>) in close cooperation with the Croatian National Police (Policija<\/em>) and Europol.<\/p> The Agency supported national authorities by enabling the exchange of critical intelligence and providing expert analytical support. On the action day, Europol deployed two experts to Madrid and Barcelona, where they worked alongside investigators, cross-checking real-time operational data, assisting with operations on the ground, and conducting forensic extractions of mobile phones used by the suspects.<\/p> This investigation is part of a wider operational taskforce at Europol, dedicated to combating Chinese human trafficking networks. Involving 11 countries, the taskforce is focused on dismantling these criminal groups operating across Europe.Two cells, one exploitation chain<\/h2>
<\/li>A highly organised and resilient network<\/h2>
International cooperation leads to success<\/h2>
<\/p>