The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
The Hague / AFP
Police forces from 52 countries arrested over 300 people and swooped on red-light districts to bust several trafficking gangs in a week-long, round-the-clock operation, Europol said on Wednesday.
The action led by the European police agency focused “on disrupting the most dangerous criminal networks currently active†including those dealing in illegal immigration, people and drug trafficking and cybercrime.
Some 529 victims of trafficking were found in brothels and massage parlours, a total of 314 people arrested and about 2.4 tonnes of cocaine was seized.
Operation Ciconia Alba was coordinated by Europol from its headquarters in The Hague in what it called “a major blow to organised crime groups operating across the European Union and beyond.â€
Raids “targeted red-light districts, brothels, massage parlours, private apartments, airports and immigration reception centres,†the agency said in a statement.
The nationalities of those arrested as well as those rescued showed that “trafficking networks originating in Nigeria, Asia and Eastern Europe are the most active in the EUâ€.