INTERPOL Launches Global Crackdown on Online Human Trafficking Rings
INTERPOL has coordinated a worldwide operation targeting online human trafficking syndicates, resulting in hundreds of arrests and rescues across multiple continents.
Lyon, France – May 14, 2025
INTERPOL has announced the success of a coordinated global operation aimed at dismantling online human trafficking rings. The initiative, codenamed Operation Eclipse, involved the collaboration of police forces from over 45 countries and resulted in more than 280 arrests and 450 victims rescued, many of whom were women and minors.
According to INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock, the syndicates used encrypted messaging apps and anonymous websites to recruit and exploit victims under false pretenses. The illegal operations spanned across Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
This is one of the most extensive operations against digital trafficking networks in recent years,” Stock said. “We are sending a strong message to organized crime groups that digital borders won’t protect them.
In addition to the arrests, authorities seized hundreds of electronic devices, fake identification documents, and cryptocurrency wallets used to finance the trafficking operations. INTERPOL also provided victim support and cross-border coordination through its Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation (HTCE) unit.
The organization is urging governments and tech platforms to collaborate more closely in detecting, reporting, and disrupting trafficking activities in the digital space.
Call to Action: To report suspected cases of human trafficking or to learn how to protect vulnerable individuals, visit interpol.int.
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