Category: Intelligence

GLASGOW, United Kingdom – INTERPOL today is releasing preliminary results of its largest-ever operation against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, carried out across 116 countries and territories.

Operation Liberterra II (29 September to 4 October) led to the rescue of 3,222 potential victims of human trafficking and identified 17,793 irregular migrants.

Authorities around the world conducted police raids, reinforced strategic border points, monitored nearly 24,000 flights and deployed officers to known trafficking and smuggling hotspots. Globally, nearly 8 million checks were carried out against INTERPOL’s databases.

A total of 2,517 arrests were made during the week – 850 of which were specifically on human trafficking or migrant smuggling charges.

Operational coordination units were set up in Argentina, Senegal, the Philippines and North Macedonia to assess intelligence and facilitate cooperation between countries within their respective regions and beyond. The operation also saw an unprecedented level of support from 15 specialized units from INTERPOL’s General Secretariat, partner organizations, national agencies and NGOs.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“In their relentless pursuit of profit, organized crime groups continue to exploit men, women and children —often multiple times over. While still preliminary, the results of this operation highlight the vast scale of the challenge facing law enforcement, underscoring that only coordinated action can counteract these threats.”

INTERPOL’s Executive Director of Police Services, Stephen Kavanagh said:

“Beyond providing a snapshot of global trafficking and migration trends, the operation served as a vital capacity building opportunity for countries, fostering relationships between specialized units, and enhancing cross-agency collaboration.”

Trafficking-fuelled fraud

The week-long operation uncovered dozens of cases in which trafficking victims were deceived and coerced into committing fraud, marking a clear departure from traditional trafficking patterns, where human exploitation is the sole criminal objective.

Targeting online scam centres using human trafficking victims has been an operational priority since INTERPOL issued an Orange Notice warning its membership of this growing and globalizing trend. In many of these cases victims are lured with false promises of employment and are kept there through intimidation and abuse.

In the Philippines, for example, officers raided a warehouse where more than 250 people, mostly Chinese nationals, were running romance scams on an industrial scale. Officers are now combing through seized devices and carrying out interviews to separate the potential victims of trafficking from members of the criminal enterprise.

On the other side of the world, in West and Central Africa, officers uncovered eight separate cases, involving multiple victims forced into exploitative pyramid schemes. Once recruited, they were transported across borders and held against their will, often suffering physical and psychological abuse.

In one instance, 24 Togolese victims were safeguarded in Mali. The women had been promised employment in locations as far away as North America, but instead, they were charged “recruitment fees” of up to USD 6,000 to operate a multi-level marketing scheme. They were then forced to target family and friends to join as well. So far, 10 arrests have been made.

Polycriminal groups: drugs, cash and weapons

Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are increasingly linked to other forms of crime, often using the same criminal networks and routes. This overlap amplifies profits and power for organized crime groups, making enforcement more complex. The need for a whole-of-crime approach was evident throughout the operation week.

In Brazil, an earlier drug trafficking investigation uncovered a migrant smuggling operation led by the same criminal group. That investigation led them to the arrest of a city council candidate and his associate for smuggling 70 migrants into the United States. In the process, they seized USD 750,000 linked to the operation.

Serbian police arrested 12 suspects linked to two organized criminal groups which facilitated the journeys of at least 178 irregular migrants through Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Police also seized cash, firearms and drugs.

Chilean and Paraguayan authorities worked together to break up a polycriminal group involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering. The group allegedly transported victims into Chile, where they were taken to different cities for sexual exploitation. Four suspects were arrested and 23 victims were rescued and supported.

Additional cases:

• In Argentina, authorities rescued 59 human trafficking victims, including 14 minors, who were forced to work on fruit and vegetable farms. Officials seized shotguns, pistols, ammunition and USD 200,000 in cash.
• Seven suspects were arrested in Algeria on money laundering charges in connection with organizing migrant smuggling. The operation resulted in the seizure of 320,000 dinars (USD 2,400) and several cell phones.

Human trafficking: A global phenomenon

Following raids on houses, businesses and nightclubs in North Macedonia, 13 suspects were arrested on charges of human trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering. The 32 potential victims identified during the raids – all women – were mostly from abroad, including Albania, Colombia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.

Additional cases:

• In Costa Rica, the female leader of a sect was arrested on suspicion of forced labour, child exploitation, emotional and physical abuse. Those recruited were made to take vows of poverty and silence, while top members lived a life of luxury, with high-end vehicles and multiple properties.
• In Syria, authorities identified a group of doctors suspected of organ trafficking.
• In Iraq, 25 people were arrested in connection with a trafficking ring involved in forced begging.
• Ethiopian national authorities arrested a 26-year-old man for recruiting seven victims into domestic servitude in the Middle East, where they were held for weeks, mistreated and starved.

Migrant smuggling: Exploiting the desire for a better life

Analysis of migrant flows is ongoing, but of note was the increasing number of Asian migrants, particularly Vietnamese, detected in the Americas during the operational week. Venezuelan nationals, however, remain the largest group of irregular migrants reported by participating countries, with most migrating to North and South America.

Tunisian authorities intercepted 27 individuals, including 21 minors, attempting to travel to the United Kingdom under the pretense of a language study trip. Coordination with INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Manchester helped identify three suspects in the UK, who have now been referred for prosecution on smuggling charges.

In Kenya, the Transnational Organized Crime Unit arrested two suspects accused of exploiting Ethiopian migrants, uncovering around 100 victims confined in a four-bedroom house. The victims reported being beaten and coerced into contacting family members for money.

Additional cases:

• UK authorities located and identified a Syrian man wanted by Romania for illegally transporting migrants from Bulgaria to Romania, for onward travel to the Netherlands.
• In Türkiye, authorities detected and safeguarded approximately 1,500 irregular migrants, arresting 94 suspected smugglers.
• Authorities in Montenegro arrested 11 members of an organized group suspected of smuggling 350 migrants from Asia into the European Union. Police recovered cash, phones, vehicles, asylum documents and foreign passports.

Focus on sustainable partnerships and cooperation

The operation sought to ensure the widest possible participation and ensure long-term investigative capacity. It was supported by 11 projects which are funded by:

• The European Commission
• The European Union
• Global Affairs Canada
• The United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
• The German Federal Foreign Office
• The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Throughout the week, participating countries were able to directly benefit from the expertise, resources, and coordinated actions of specialized projects and international organizations. Additional support was provided by:

• Afripol
• CARICOM IMPACS
• Europol
• EU4FAST
• Frontex
• International Organization for Migration
• The Regional Support Office of the Bali Process
• ROCK (Regional Operational Center in Khartoum in support of the Khartoum Process and AU-Horn of Africa initiative)
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Participating countries and territories:

Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Benin, Bermuda (UK), Bolivia, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cayman Islands (UK), Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte D’ivoire, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Congo (Democratic Rep.), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, St Lucia, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turks & Caicos (UK), Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

GLASGOW, United Kingdom – A global INTERPOL operation has taken down more than 22,000 malicious IP addresses or servers linked to cyber threats.

Operation Synergia II (1 April – 31 August 2024) specifically targeted phishing, ransomware and information stealers and was a joint effort from INTERPOL, private sector partners and law enforcement agencies from 95 INTERPOL member countries.   

Of the approximately 30,000 suspicious IP addresses identified, 76 per cent were taken down and 59 servers were seized. Additionally, 43 electronic devices, including laptops, mobile phones and hard disks were seized. The operation led to the arrest of 41 individuals, with 65 others still under investigation.

A global operation

During Operation Synergia II, INTERPOL worked closely with its partners, Group-IB, Trend Micro, Kaspersky and Team Cymru, utilizing their expertise in tracking illegal cyber activities to identify thousands of malicious servers. INTERPOL shared this information with participating law enforcement agencies, which conducted preliminary investigations leading to a series of coordinated actions, including house searches, disruption of malicious cyber activities, and lawful seizures of servers and electronic devices. The following countries participated in the operation:

Hong Kong (China): Police supported the operation by taking offline more than 1,037 servers linked to malicious services.

Mongolia: Investigations included 21 house searches, the seizure of a server and the identification of 93 individuals with links to illegal cyber activities.

Macau (China): Police took 291 servers offline.

Madagascar: Authorities identified 11 individuals with links to malicious servers and seized 11 electronic devices for further investigation.

Estonia: Police seized more than 80GB of server data and authorities are now working with INTERPOL to conduct further analysis of data linked to phishing and banking malware.

Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, said:

“The global nature of cybercrime requires a global response which is evident by the support member countries provided to Operation Synergia II. Together, we’ve not only dismantled malicious infrastructure but also prevented hundreds of thousands of potential victims from falling prey to cybercrime. INTERPOL is proud to bring together a diverse team of member countries to fight this ever-evolving threat and make our world a safer place.”

Targeted crimes

Operation Synergia II is a response to the escalating threat and professionalization of transnational cybercrime. It prioritized three key cybercrime types to protect individuals and businesses globally:

Phishing: Phishing remains the most widely reported initial access technique, used to steal data, deploy malware and move within systems. Increasingly, Generative AI is allowing cybercriminals to create more sophisticated phishing emails, in multiple languages, making them more difficult to detect.

Infostealers: A type of malware that breaches computer systems to steal sensitive data, such as log in credentials or financial information. They are increasingly used to infiltrate systems in ransomware attacks. In 2023 there was over a 40% increase in the sale of logs collected from infostealers on the deep and dark web.

Ransomware: Ransomware attacks increased globally by an average rate of 70 per cent across all industries in 2023, with targeted sectors and geographies expanding considerably.

GLASGOW, United Kingdom – INTERPOL’s General Assembly has elected Valdecy Urquiza as the next Secretary General of the world’s largest police organization.

The Brazilian Police Commissioner will take over at the close of the General Assembly on Thursday 7 November when the current Secretary General, Jürgen Stock, will finish his second and final mandate after being at the helm of the Organization for 10 years.

Thanking the delegates for their confidence in appointing him, Mr Urquiza vowed to promote equality and diversity within the Organization, coordinate with countries to deliver effective investigations and operations, and offer capacity building initiatives tailored to regional policing issues.

Mr Urquiza said: “My commitment is to shape an INTERPOL that doesn’t just meet today’s demands but anticipates and prepares for the challenges of tomorrow.

“A strong INTERPOL is one that includes everyone. When we respect and elevate diverse perspectives, we get a clearer, more comprehensive approach to global security.

“Together, we can build an INTERPOL that serves as a beacon of hope and security, standing shoulder to shoulder with every police force, in every country, to create a safer world for all.”

Welcoming Mr Urquiza’s election and recognizing the achievements of Mr Stock, INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi said:

“Mr Urquiza represents the future of INTERPOL—a diverse, tech-forward organization committed to working with its 196 member countries to ensure a safer world for all.

“Over the past decade, Secretary General Stock has led our organization with dedication and a commitment to excellence. His time in office has brought major progress in international police cooperation and a strong commitment to improving global security.”

The Secretary General is elected by the General Assembly, INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, with voting carried out on a one-country, one-vote basis, with each member country’s vote carrying equal weight.

Based at the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France, the Secretary General is the Organization’s chief official, responsible for the day-to-day decision-making and functioning of the General Secretariat’s activities across all 15 duty stations worldwide.

This includes supervising all the operational support, expertise, databases and services that INTERPOL provides its 196 member countries to support them in the fight against international crime.

About the selection process

The process for selection and appointment of the Secretary General is determined by the Organization’s rules. In June this year, the Executive Committee proposed Mr Urquiza as their candidate for the General Assembly to make the final decision with a vote by secret ballot.

The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s governing body. It meets annually with all decisions made on ‘one country, one vote’ basis, with each vote carrying equal weight.

LYON, France – INTERPOL has today published an updated Repository of Practice (RoP) on how the Organization assesses member countries’ requests for international police cooperation, including Notices and Diffusions.

The RoP outlines how the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters determines compliance with Articles 2(1) and 3 of the Organization’s Constitution which mandate that all activities align with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and are not political, military, religious, or racial in nature.

While the previous RoP published in 2013 only covered Article 3, this comprehensive document shares for the first time how INTERPOL determines compliance on human rights grounds.

Using specific scenarios based on real-life cases, the updated RoP provides insights into the decision-making process for offences:

• committed by current or former politicians and high-level civil servants or in the context of a coup d’état or situations of social/civil/political unrest
• concerning freedom of assembly or of association
• relating to terrorism or membership of a terrorist organization
• involving sanctions violations
• including religious or racial elements

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“As a neutral platform for international police cooperation, it is of utmost importance that our activities transcend domestic and global politics.

“The Repository of Practice is a valuable resource which demonstrates INTERPOL’s commitment to upholding human rights principles and the rule of law in our activities.”

The revised RoP, which will be regularly updated, reflects the evolving nature of transnational crime and INTERPOL’s continued work to ensure that its activities comply with its Constitution and rules.

It builds on the creation in 2016 of the Notices and Diffusions Task Force (NDTF), a dedicated multidisciplinary team that conducts a robust quality and legal compliance review of incoming Notice and Diffusions requests from member countries.

Comprised of lawyers, police officers and operations specialists with a wide range of experience and language skills, the NDTF will either authorize or deny each request.

Notices approved by the NDTF are published by the General Secretariat and all INTERPOL member countries are notified.

If a Notice or Diffusion is denied because of non-compliance with Article 2(1) or 3 of the INTERPOL Constitution, no further cooperation is allowed to take place via INTERPOL.