INTERPOL's Global Crackdown: 3,744 Arrests in Human Trafficking Operation

INTERPOL's Massive Global Operation Nets Thousands of Arrests

In a sweeping global law enforcement effort, INTERPOL's Operation Liberterra III has resulted in 3,744 arrests across 119 countries, safeguarding 4,414 potential trafficking victims and detecting 12,992 irregular migrants. The 11-day operation, conducted from November 10-21, 2025, involved more than 14,000 police officers worldwide and has been hailed as one of the most significant anti-trafficking initiatives in recent years.

Evolving Criminal Networks and New Patterns

INTERPOL officials noted a significant shift in trafficking patterns, with South Americans and Asians now being trafficked into Africa, reversing previous trends where African victims were typically trafficked abroad. 'We're seeing criminal networks adapt quickly, exploiting new routes and digital platforms to prey on vulnerable populations,' said an INTERPOL spokesperson. The operation uncovered trafficking scams along dangerous coastal routes in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, and Algeria, as well as land networks in Peru and Brazil.

In West and Central Africa, authorities rescued over 200 victims and disrupted multiple recruitment hubs. Victims are often recruited through false promises of foreign employment, with traffickers using pyramid scheme models that force victims to recruit friends and family. 'These operations show that human trafficking remains a global scourge, but international cooperation can make a real difference,' noted a senior law enforcement official involved in the operation.

Cybercrime Crackdown Across Africa

Separately, INTERPOL's Operation Sentinel, conducted from October 27 to November 27, 2025, resulted in 574 arrests and recovery of approximately USD 3 million across 19 African countries. The operation targeted business email compromise (BEC) schemes, digital extortion, and ransomware attacks, taking down over 6,000 malicious links and decrypting six ransomware variants.

Key achievements included preventing estimated financial losses exceeding USD 21 million. In Senegal, authorities prevented a USD 7.9 million fraudulent wire transfer to a petroleum company, while Ghana recovered 30 terabytes of data from a ransomware attack. Benin shut down 4,318 fraudulent social media accounts as part of the coordinated effort.

INTERPOL's Role in Global Security

INTERPOL, with its 196 member countries, serves as the world's largest international police organization, facilitating worldwide police cooperation and crime control. Headquartered in Lyon, France, the organization operates in four languages: Arabic, English, French, and Spanish. Despite recent controversies about potential abuse of its systems by some member states, INTERPOL maintains its commitment to political neutrality in fulfilling its mandate.

The organization's recent successes demonstrate its evolving approach to transnational crime. 'We're moving from reactive operations to continuous, proactive hunting of criminal networks,' explained an INTERPOL cybercrime specialist. This shift is particularly evident in Africa, where Operation Sentinel follows earlier initiatives like Operation Serengeti, creating a sustained pressure on cybercriminal operations across the continent.

As global criminal networks become increasingly sophisticated, INTERPOL's role in coordinating international law enforcement responses has never been more critical. The organization's ability to share intelligence, coordinate simultaneous operations across multiple jurisdictions, and leverage technical expertise continues to prove essential in combating transnational crime in all its forms.