Operational support to human trafficking cases

Eurojust continued to assist national authorities with more than 300 human trafficking cases in 2022. This crime area saw an increase in the number of coordination meetings and action days organised by the Agency to help judicial authorities in Europe and beyond fight human trafficking.

The level of prosecutions and convictions for human trafficking offences however remains low. The number of cases referred to the Agency and the number of JITs it supported slightly decreased in 2022 compared to 2021. There remain serious challenges in judicial cooperation, both at the national and cross-border levels, to effectively tackle this crime area.

Eurojust actively encourages national authorities to refer more cases to the Agency to identify or trigger parallel criminal proceedings in the European Union and beyond. Eurojust can provide assistance with the coordination of such proceedings, the setting up of JITs, the successful prosecution of traffickers and the protection of victims.

Action against criminal network dealing in human trafficking, pimping and money laundering

Since 2012 - A criminal network is involved in the trafficking and sexual exploitation of human beings, pimping, child pornography, money laundering and forgery, generating an estimated EUR 3 million. The OCG allegedly recruits women in Romania and forces them into prostitution in the United Kingdom by advertising their services on escort sites. Profits are laundered through UK banks and transmitted back into Romanian bank accounts belonging to OCG members.

One of the leaders of the criminal group is believed to have committed crimes of sexual intercourse with a minor and child pornography after recruiting a 17-year-old victim, having sex with her and recording pornographic material to blackmail her afterwards. The same leader allegedly attempts sexual corruption of minors by trying to persuade a family in a precarious economic situation to release a minor into his custody.

June 2021 - The case is opened at Eurojust at the request of the Romanian authorities.

August 2021 - The Agency supports the judicial and law enforcement authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom by setting up and funding a JIT. A first coordination meeting is supported by Eurojust to facilitate judicial cooperation and provide support for the coordinated investigative efforts.

April 2022 - A second coordination meeting is hosted by the Agency to prepare the joint action day.

April 2022 - An action day takes place during which 9 suspects are found in 10 house searches in Romania. The suspects are called to the Prosecutor’s Office for hearings. Four cars with an approximate value of EUR 250 000, EUR 137 000 in cash, weapons and several electronic devices are seized. An order to seize EUR 1 million worth of assets is issued.

In the United Kingdom, five suspects are arrested and six locations searched, in an operation involving the participation of a Romanian delegation. Drugs, weapons and money in cash are seized.

November 2022 - An indictment is issued and 16 defendants are sent to court. The OCG is successfully dismantled.

Commission proposes stronger rules to fight human trafficking

Every year over 7 000 people become victims of human trafficking in the European Union, with many more victims remaining undetected. The yearly cost of this crime is EUR 2.7 billion, and the majority of victims are women and girls. In December 2022, the Commission proposed to strengthen the rules in the EU Anti-trafficking Directive that prevent and combat trafficking in human beings.

Forms of exploitation have evolved in recent years, with the crime increasingly taking on an online dimension. Traffickers benefit from opportunities to use technology to recruit, control, transport and exploit victims, as well as move profits within the European Union and beyond. This evolution calls for the legislation to be updated.

Eurojust contributed to the evaluation of the Directive, providing insights from its human trafficking casework and cooperation with national judicial authorities. The updated rules will provide stronger tools for law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation. For example, by making sure that knowingly using the services provided by victims of trafficking constitutes a criminal offence. The Commission's proposal replaces the optional sanctions regime with a regime of mandatory sanctions against companies and other legal persons held liable for trafficking offences. It also aims to improve procedures for early identification and support for victims in Member States, including through the appointment of national focal points for the cross-border referral of victims to enhance transnational cooperation.

Eurojust assists Hungary and Switzerland in dismantling human trafficking network

Since 2017 - A criminal network is involved in trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The victims are young Hungarian women from underprivileged backgrounds. The suspects allegedly send the victims to Switzerland where they are forced to enter into prostitution. The victims are under the permanent control of the perpetrators.

2021 - Investigations are carried out separately in Switzerland and Hungary.

January 2022 - The case is opened at Eurojust at the request of the Swiss authorities, in order to help prosecutors and investigators connect the relevant information and initiate effective cooperation between the two countries.

March – October 2022 - Two coordination meetings are hosted by Eurojust to facilitate judicial cooperation and provide support for the coordinated investigative efforts. During the coordination meetings, the Agency ensures a common understanding of the network’s criminal activities, as well as the difference in the provisions of the national legislation on MLA.

June 2022 - The Agency supports judicial and law enforcement authorities in Hungary and Switzerland in setting up a JIT to pursue the case.

22 November 2022 - During a joint action day, witness hearings of three potential victims of the criminal group are carried out by the Hungarian law enforcement agency. Four suspects are arrested, two in Hungary and two in Switzerland. Two house searches are carried out in Hungary and another two in Switzerland. A high-value vehicle, HUF 3 million (approximately EUR 7 300) and CHF 2 000 (approximately EUR 2 000) in cash, jewellery, cell phones, electronic devices and 7 real estate properties are seized in Hungary.

War in Ukraine triggers an increased risk of human trafficking

To protect people fleeing the war in Ukraine, the EU Solidarity Platform adopted a tailor-made Common Anti-Trafficking Plan to address the risks of trafficking in human beings and support potential victims. The EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator developed the Plan together with Member States and EU agencies, including Eurojust. The Common Anti-Trafficking Plan aims to better coordinate EU actions for welcoming people fleeing the war in Ukraine. It builds on the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings and is aligned with the EU Anti-trafficking Directive.

Amongst its goals, are the need to enhance the judicial and law enforcement response to human trafficking, reinforce prevention, and improve the identification, support and protection of human trafficking victims. These goals are being pursued through concrete actions at EU level and through recommendations to EU countries.

The Common Plan refers to Eurojust’s crucial role in assisting human trafficking investigations at an early stage by facilitating cross-border judicial cooperation at the EU level and with Ukrainian judicial authorities. Furthermore, it recommends law enforcement and judicial authorities in Member States to cooperate and systematically exchange data with Eurojust on investigations related to the war in Ukraine.

Following the adoption of this Plan, Eurojust disseminated and regularly updated an Information Note for national competent authorities on the increased risk of human trafficking triggered by the war in Ukraine. The Note helped to raise awareness, and encouraged national authorities to exchange information and open human trafficking investigations on suspicion of the exploitation of Ukrainian refugees, in particular with respect to unaccompanied minors. The Note offered Eurojust’s availability to assist such investigations at the earliest possibility, and to enhance the exchange of information as well as speed up judicial cooperation, including with Ukrainian authorities.

First meeting of the new Focus Group of prosecutors specialised in human trafficking

The first meeting of the newly established Focus Group of specialised prosecutors against trafficking in human beings took place in June 2022. The meeting was co-organised by Eurojust and the European Commission, with the participation of prosecutors and investigative judges from across the Member States. The objective of the group is to build expertise and intensify judicial cooperation, as outlined in the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings.

  Over the years, Eurojust has been active in providing the necessary support and assistance to prosecutors dealing with trafficking cases to ensure effective judicial cooperation and coordination in this field. I am confident that creating a forum for practitioners, allowing them to communicate directly, and exchange best practices, knowledge and expertise with the appropriate resources and support will result in more successful investigations, prosecutions and, finally, convictions in this crime area.

Participants discussed the challenges prosecutors face when addressing human trafficking cases at the national and cross-border levels. Enhancing the judicial response to human trafficking cases linked to the war in Ukraine was another key topic of discussion.

A robust criminal justice response is crucial to carrying out effective investigations, prosecutions and convictions. The Focus Group will work towards ensuring this.

Expert meeting on the trafficking of surrogate mothers and their children

In October 2022, Eurojust co-organised an expert meeting on surrogacy arrangements, together with Bulgarian and Czech national judicial authorities. The meeting raised awareness in all Member States on the potential for human trafficking in international surrogacy arrangements and allowed for the exchange of information on relevant legislation, criminal cases and issues encountered by each country. Eurojust contributed to the expert meeting with lessons learned from its support in a complex case involving the trafficking of surrogate mothers.