European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL)’s Post

This autumn, between September 29th and October 4th the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducted global raids, rescuing 3,222 potential human trafficking victims, including identifying 17,800 irregular migrants. The operation, known as Operation Liberterra II, involved 116 countries, making it the largest operation so far against human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The coordinated efforts united global UNODC experts, including law enforcement officers and prosecutors, facilitating real-time case identification and cross-border lawful cooperation. Together, global authorities performed police raids, strengthened border points, monitored almost 24,000 flights, and deployed officers to known hotspots. In total, nearly 8 million checks were conducted. Fortunately, these two organizations plan to continue to increase international cooperation, expedite intelligence sharing, and create more collaborative action against these threats. To learn more, visit: https://buff.ly/40JW9Ny Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) #PreventionFriday #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #EndHumanTrafficking #FightHumanTrafficking #AntiTrafficking #Liluye #LiluyeSpirit

The Link Between Drug Trafficking and Human Trafficking: Border Crisis Revealed Discover the alarming truth about the connection between drug trafficking and human trafficking at the border. Hear firsthand accounts from Pastor Rudy Gonzalez and Jonathan Alexander who are witnessing the devastating effects. Take action and support efforts to secure our borders and combat these interconnected crimes. #DrugTrafficking #HumanTrafficking #BorderCrisis #SecureOurBorders #StopCrime #FightingTrafficking #BorderSecurity #EndIllegalActivities #CommittedToSafeguarding #CrimePrevention #Republican #Democrat #GOP #CAGOP #SerpaforCongress #FYP #foryoupage #CA39 #Riverside #Perris #JurupaValley #MorenoValley #Congress #California #Unite

Taking part in ToT on TiPs and SoMs!! A ToT on Trafficking in Persons [TiPs] and Migrant Smuggling [SoMs] in general and focusing on its Investigation is kicked off at #HaileResortAdama organized in collaboration with CIVIPOL and UNODC along with #Ethiopian Police University. The ToT will immensely help me for the effective delivery of module preparation at my organization OLTRI on TiPs and SoMs Proclamation No. 1178/2020 which is underway currently. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to CIVIPOL and UNODC for their exemplary collaboration with the #EthiopianPoliceUniversity in organizing this training initiative. This partnership not only underscores a shared commitment to enhancing law enforcement capabilities but also emphasizes the importance of addressing critical issues of the time and lucrative illegal business for traffickers and smugglers helping them to gain estimated multi-billion dollar [over 245USD] yearly.[1] The program started by succinct introduction of BMM [Better Migration Management, works done by CIVIPOL in combating TiPs and SoMs, focus areas and the guiding principles of the organization by #Yibeltal Walelign, CIVIPOL BMM national coordinator; which is followed by presentation by #Lelise Terfasa, Associate Programme management officer Transnational Organized Crime, Illicit trafficking and, terrorism programmes UNODC Program office Ethiopia; on UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and is protocol on TiPs & SoMs. The training provided invaluable insights and practical skills that will empower participants to effectively combat trafficking in persons. Such initiatives are vital for fostering a safer environment and promoting justice within our communities.  Many thanks to the organizers for your dedication and leadership in this essential and timely issue and, CIVIPOL national coordinator in particular. [1] According to Hope for Justice, known for updating estimate of the illicit monetary profits of modern slavery and human trafficking report on July 2023 total of US$245.81 billion; US$169.9 billion from sexual exploitation And US$75.9 billion from forced labour in the private sector, including domestic servitude

Today, November 15, 2024, the United Nations hosted a High-Level Event to commemorate the first International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime. This event marks the conclusion of a one-month campaign launched during the Ministerial Event held on October 14, 2024. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC)—adopted by General Assembly resolution 55/25 on November 15, 2000—is the primary international instrument combating transnational organized crime. It is further strengthened by three protocols targeting: 1️⃣ Trafficking in Persons, 2️⃣ Smuggling of Migrants, and 3️⃣ Trafficking in Firearms. Italy has played a pivotal role in these efforts. The High-Level Political Conference that adopted the Convention took place in Palermo, Italy, from December 12–15, 2000, and the Convention entered into force on September 29, 2003. Notably, Judge Giovanni Falcone attended the first-ever meeting of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in April 1992, raising awareness about the growing threat of transnational organized crime. Tragically, just one month later—on May 23, 1992—Judge Falcone, his wife Francesca Morvillo, and three police officers (Rocco Dicillo, Antonio Montinaro, and Vito Schifani) were killed in a roadside bombing. During today's event, Italy presented a powerful video on transnational organized crimes and issued a call to action for us all to act now. H.E. Ambassador Debora Lepre emphasized: "If crimes cross borders, so must law enforcement." She called for international cooperation and collaboration to address transnational organized crime, particularly its emerging forms. Let us honor the legacies of those who paved the way, remember the victims who died from these crimes, and recommit ourselves to this critical fight through international collaboration. #UN #UNODC #Italy #TransnationalOrganizedCrime #Peace #Security #Justice #EileenDongOfficial

Happy International Children’s Day!🥳 We all want our children to be safe and happy, but we also know that for many children it is far from being true. In the law enforcement sector, we bear the obligation and the responsibility to take special care of the children who cannot count on their parents, guardians, or state authorities to offer protection and secure their rights and wellbeing. At #Frontex, we know that criminals target children as easy victims and use borders to smuggle and exploit them far away from their homes or families. That’s why we are deeply committed to offering protection and safety to the youngest travellers where we can: at our borders. “We want to include border guards and train as many of them as possible to spot all suspicious situations concerning the children on the move and at risk of trafficking,” explains Razvan Budeanu, Head of Law Enforcement Sector a.i. at Frontex. “Borders may be one of the few places where well-trained officers can spot and identify potential victims and protect them before the crime occurs. We should also strive and join border forces with police forces, so that no child falls victim of exploitation rings and all children receive appropriate support starting at the border and after crossing it.” Since 2015, Frontex prioritises children on the move. Its series of VEGA handbooks: children at airports, children at land borders, and children at sea borders constitutes a compendium of knowledge and reference for all border guards to assist vulnerable travellers, spot any signs of distress or potential crime and act accordingly. “Over the years, we have gained more experience to share in those handbooks, which are free and publicly available to all border forces in Europe and in the world. We would like to raise awareness of their existence,” informs Razvan. Frontex does not stop there. The Law Enforcement Sector has recently held the first meeting of the Focus Group on Trafficking against Human Beings, where the VEGA Children is identified as a top priority initiative. Together with Frontex operational, training, and analytical units, the Fundamental Rights Office and the Consultative Forum, the agency has set a clear objective: all hands on board to eliminate all gaps in the system that may be used by the criminal rings to exploit our children. A thorough update to the handbooks is to be expected as an important part of awareness-raising and knowledge-sharing. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dvZcny3f

Beginning today, GlobalAustin, in partnership with Global Ties U.S., is hosting a #StateINL delegation from Mexico for a project titled "Trafficking and Transnational Crime Study Tour". During their time here, the delegation will be impacting the community by: • Examining how human trafficking and other transnational crimes are handled at the U.S. border with Mexico; • Sharing best practices in the prevention, prosecution, and protection of human trafficking; • Exploring how law enforcement agencies collaborate to combat human trafficking; and • Exploring what services are offered to victims of human trafficking. #SeguridadCompartida #INLMexico #ExchangesImpact #ExchangeMatters #IAmDiplomacy #CitizenDiplomacy #PublicDiplomacy

Kudos to CARICOM IMPACS and law enforcement agencies of Caribbean governments which participated in INTERPOL's largest-ever operation against human trafficking and people smuggling, Operation Liberterra II (29 September to 4 October), carried out across 116 countries and territories. A total of 2,517 arrests were made during the week – 850 of which were specifically on human trafficking or migrant smuggling charges. The Operation led to the rescue of 3,222 potential victims of human trafficking and identified 17,793 irregular migrants. Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are increasingly linked to other forms of crime, often using the same criminal networks and routes. The need for a whole-of-crime approach was evident throughout the operation week. This highlights the intersectionality and collaboration among diverse criminal networks operating and connecting globally. An effective and efficient response must be cross-border and cross-sector as the care, rehabilitation and reintegration for the thousands of possible victims will provided together with diverse actors, including survivor led agencies, civil society and business stakeholders. Source: https://lnkd.in/eFJQKwNu

For the better part of the last decade, countries of western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia) were predominantly transit countries for migrants and traffickers on the way to western Europe. Despite involvement of local criminal groups, this development did not present a significant security problem for Balkan countries. As a result, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors did not place too many (already thin) resources in combating trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling. Lately, this situation is changing. Instead of local criminal groups, more and more Afghan, Syrian, Turkish criminal groups are using the so-called Balkan route to smuggle not just migrants but also drugs, weapons, and money. Armed clashes between different criminal groups, attacks on local police, increased violence against migrants...all contributing to already bad security situation in the region, stretching limited police and prosecutorial services ever more. As part of EU4FAST and together with our partners from Italian, French and German ministries of interior, we in Center for International Legal Cooperation are proud to be able to contribute to joint efforts of western Balkan prosecutorial authorities countries to improve mutual coordination and cooperation in pre-investigation and investigation of transnational organised crimes and plan and conduct joint investigations to ensure more effective prosecution of these crimes. EU4FAST Center for International Legal Cooperation https://lnkd.in/eht9XSq7

🔍𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐥’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐥’𝐬 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 has released a comprehensive report detailing the latest developments and major threats in #MigrantSmuggling and #HumanTrafficking. This report is based on recent operations supported by Europol. Migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks swiftly #Exploit 𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 to maximize illegal profits. They leverage digital platforms, social media, mobile applications, and cryptocurrencies to manage logistics, payments, and profits. In 2023, Europol supported 223 operations against these networks, providing national law enforcement with 1,231 operational reports. Eleven 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 targeted these #CriminalNetworks. Investigations reveal that these networks are involved in multiple #IllegalActivities, including 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. There are strong links between migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and #TerrorismFinancing. Europol’s ongoing efforts and collaborations aim to strengthen the EU’s tools in the fight against these #CriminalThreats, ensuring a more robust response to protect vulnerable individuals and uphold justice. Refer to Europol’s official publication for more details (Link in the comment section). #Europol #HumanTrafficking #MigrantSmuggling #CrimePrevention