12‑year‑old rescued from forced marriage trafficking at Lisbon airport

Police officers from Portugal’s Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) intercepted a woman suspected of people‑trafficking at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport on 25 July. The woman, aged 45, arrived on a flight from Dakar accompanied by a 12‑year‑old girl who claimed to be her daughter. Border officials noted inconsistencies in the child's travel document and the alleged familial relationship. In a protected interview, the girl said her parents had handed her over to be taken to France to be married off as a means of settling a family debt. The woman admitted receiving cash to transport the child. The PSP placed the girl under child‑protection measures and placed the woman in preventive detention while the investigation continues to identify any other participants.

The case highlights a suspected instance of forced‑marriage trafficking, with the victim originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the flight originating in Senegal, and the intended destination France. Authorities have activated legal mechanisms for the protection of children at risk.