476 potential victims of human trafficking identified during the Large-Scale Joint Action Days 2019

Between 16-25 September, Europol coordinated the EMPACT Large-Scale Joint Action Days (LS-JAD) 2019. The actions targeted synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances and, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, document fraud and environmental crime and involved law enforcement authorities from EU Member States, third-party countries and EU bodies *.

476 potential victims of human trafficking identified  

Joint efforts of 23 countries**, led by Austria and Spain, have targeted networks involved in trafficking of human beings for sexual exploitation and forced begging active across Europe. 

More than 124 000 individuals were checked, alongside more than 29 000 vehicles and 3 500 locations suspected of facilitating the exploitation. Nightclubs, brothels, private flats, massage parlours, hot spots known for begging and pickpocketing were among the locations checked together with train stations, airports, land and sea border crossing points.

The main results of the hit on human trafficking networks include:

• 476 victims identified (16 of which minors);
• 162 suspects arrested (41 for human trafficking);
• 111 new investigations opened;
• 20 counterfeit documents seized. 

The overall results*** from all actions within the LS-JAD targeting drug and human trafficking, migrant smuggling and environmental crime include:

• 561 suspects arrested;
• 85 million euros worth of seizures in drugs 
• €1.1 million cigarettes and 1 223kg of tobacco seized;
• 129 forged/counterfeit/misused documents seized;
• 116 protected species seized;
• 2 471 illegal fisheries seized;
• 451 new investigations initiated;
• ~50 000 law enforcement officers participating;
• 718 000+ checks of people, means of transportation, postal packages, houses and warehouses;
• 376 000+ persons checked.

*Overall participation confirmed: 25 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) and Switzerland, Europol, Eurojust, Frontex and EFCA.

**Participation in the action against human trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced begging: 22 Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) and Switzerland 

***Preliminary results. Final confirmed results will follow. 

As the European hub for law enforcement cooperation, Europol supported the 2019 large-scale Joint Action Days with operational coordination, secure information exchange, cross-checking of data against Europol’s databases and operational analysis, as well as on-the-spot operational support.

The EMPACT Joint Action Days 2019 are part of the operational activities planned in the framework of the EU Policy Cycle. Six other EMPACT Joint Action Days have taken place so far in 2019. 
Two of the latest joint action days -JAD Danube 4 and JAD Western Balkans, resulted in 301 arrests and multiple seizures, including 163 forged or falsified documents, 57 weapons and firearms and more than 900 pieces of ammunition. 
The previous Policy Cycle was marked by the successful operations 2017 Dragon (2017), Ciconia Alba (2016), Blue Amber (2015), and Archimedes (2014).