UAE Plays Role As Hundreds Arrested In Interpol Anti-Trafficking Operation

The UAE has played a role in a major Interpol operation to tackle human trafficking around the world, leading to hundreds of arrests.

An operations room in Abu Dhabi and UAE personnel took part in the campaign against migrant smuggling and trafficking gangs that led to 286 arrests globally.

Interpol said authorities rescued about 430 human trafficking victims and identified 4,000 irregular migrants originating from 74 countries. Many of them required medical, psychological and housing assistance and were taken into the care of protective services.

“Operation Liberterra is a five-day snapshot of the global trafficking and smuggling situation, and how multinational, highly organised criminal networks only focus on one thing: profit,” said Interpol secretary general Jurgen Stock.

“With 22 criminal groups dismantled, it also shows what co-ordinated, global law enforcement action can achieve.”

• Algerian authorities dismantled a smuggling group focusing on maritime routes to European coasts.
• Colombia dismantled two different criminal organisations, making 22 arrests. While one group was dedicated to smuggling migrants to the US, the other group focused on bringing Cuban and Haitian migrants from Ecuador into Colombia. In addition, two subjects of Interpol Red Notices wanted internationally by Spain for human trafficking were arrested.

Read the full story by Rory Reynolds onThe National News.

Category: Around the World