European authorities identify 51 potential human trafficking victims

An international operation held in Amsterdam, involving 40 experts and investigators from 20 countries, has identified 51 potential victims of human trafficking, all of whom are women. The operation, which included the fifth EMPACT hackathon focused on online human trafficking, took place between September 23 and 25, 2026.

Co-led by the Netherlands, Germany, Romania, and the United Kingdom, the investigation targeted digital platforms to uncover methods used by traffickers for recruitment, service promotion, and exploitation. Investigators examined 26 online platforms, 77 social media accounts, and 166 digital entities, including usernames, phone numbers, and locations.

The crackdown aimed to document criminal networks involved in sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, organ trafficking, and forced online criminality. The operation successfully identified six potential criminal networks and five suspects. Findings are being transferred to national authorities to serve as leads for further investigations.