Global Human Smuggling Network Hit Hard as Interpol Nabs 3,700 Suspects

A worldwide security operation coordinated by Interpol has led to the arrest of more than 3,700 suspected human traffickers and migrant smugglers, according to a report by African News.

The international policing body disclosed on Monday that over 4,400 potential victims were identified and safeguarded during the coordinated action. The operation, known as Operation Liberterra III, was carried out over an eleven-day period in November and spanned 119 countries, with the participation of about 14,000 law enforcement officers.

Interpol noted a noticeable shift in trafficking patterns. Unlike previous trends where African nationals were frequently trafficked overseas, recent investigations show increasing cases involving South American and Asian victims within parts of Africa.

In a statement, Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said criminal groups are adapting quickly by exploiting new transit routes, online platforms, and vulnerable communities. He explained that tracking these evolving patterns enables authorities to intervene earlier, dismantle networks, and enhance victim protection.

The agency also raised concern over trafficking-related scams. Migrants were intercepted along risky coastal routes in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, and Algeria, as well as through land corridors in Peru, Brazil, and other regions.

In many African countries, victims are reportedly lured with promises of overseas employment. Once recruited, traffickers impose heavy financial charges and pressure victims to bring in relatives or acquaintances, creating a cycle similar to a pyramid scheme.

Security agencies in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Sierra Leone confirmed joint enforcement actions that rescued more than 200 victims and disrupted several recruitment and exploitation centres.

Separately, African News reported that a cybercrime enforcement drive across Africa in 2025 resulted in the arrest of 1,209 suspects accused of defrauding approximately 88,000 individuals.

Meanwhile, in Asia, authorities uncovered 450 workers during a raid on a compound in Myanmar, further underscoring the global scale of trafficking and exploitation networks.

The sweeping crackdown highlights the growing international collaboration aimed at dismantling organised trafficking operations and protecting vulnerable populations worldwide.