Seven people have been arrested in the United Kingdom as part of an international operation targeting people smuggling and human trafficking networks, led by INTERPOL and coordinated domestically by the National Crime Agency.
The arrests formed part of Operation Liberterra III, described as INTERPOL’s largest operation to date focused on organised migration crime. The operation was run in the UK through the NCA’s Joint International Crime Centre, which coordinated activity with police forces and international partners.
Officers from the National Extradition Unit made five arrests across London, Bedfordshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Two further arrests were carried out by Greater Manchester Police during the operation, which took place between 10 and 21 November last year. Those arrested in the UK included individuals wanted overseas for serious offences. Among them were a 30-year-old Sri Lankan man arrested in Liverpool and wanted in France for the rape of a child, a 38-year-old Iraqi man arrested in Greater Manchester and sought by German authorities for rape, and a 29-year-old Egyptian man arrested in Bedfordshire and wanted in France for murder.
Also detained were a 41-year-old Syrian man wanted in Germany for organising illegal small-boat crossings, a 30-year-old Bulgarian man arrested in London and sought by France for human trafficking, a 23-year-old Ukrainian man wanted in Germany for sexual exploitation, and a 31-year-old Romanian man wanted in Romania for sexual exploitation.
Extradition proceedings are now under way for all seven suspects.
The UK hosted the European Operational Coordination Unit for the operation, facilitated by Kent Police and led by the NCA. The unit maintained continuous liaison with Europol and supported the rapid sharing of intelligence between participating countries.
Rick Jones, the NCA’s Deputy Director of International, said the operation demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in tackling organised migration crime.
“This global operation is a prime example of our commitment to working closely and effectively with international partners to tackle people smuggling and human trafficking,” he said. “Seven suspects wanted in connection to serious offences have been removed from our communities and extradition proceedings are ongoing to ensure they face justice.”
Operation Liberterra III involved law enforcement agencies from 119 countries. Globally, 3,744 suspects were arrested, including around 1,800 linked to human trafficking and migrant smuggling offences. Authorities also detected 12,992 migrants and safeguarded 4,414 potential victims of human trafficking. Alongside INTERPOL, the operation involved Europol, Frontex, and UK partners including Immigration Enforcement, Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
