December 12, 2023 at 01:33AM
Interpol’s operation “Turquesa V” resulted in the arrest of hundreds of suspected people smugglers and the rescue of 163 potential victims from servitude. The operation targeted cyber criminals luring workers into forced labor for cyber scams, uncovering hot spots in South America and the Middle East. Over 33 countries participated, with 257 arrests made.
From the provided meeting notes, the main takeaways include:
1. Interpol coordinated a successful operation called “Turquesa V” that targeted cyber criminals involved in trafficking workers into servitude for cyber scams.
2. The operation led to the arrest of hundreds of suspected people smugglers and the rescue of 163 potential victims.
3. Hot spots for this type of crime were identified in South America and the Middle East.
4. The operation uncovered instances of forced labor in service of cyber crime previously confined to Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
5. One set of traffickers lured Brazilian victims with promises of cryptocurrency jobs, only to force them to work for cyber investment scam operations.
6. Additionally, a significant amount of criminal proceeds were frozen in Cambodia.
7. Operation Turquesa V involved police from 33 countries conducting over 850,000 checks at major transit points in the US and Canada, leading to 257 arrests and over 12,000 stops of irregular migrants.
8. There was an increase in migration patterns from China, with migration patterns from Venezuela and Ecuador also prevalent.
9. The operation also flagged potential migrant smugglers at various transit points and led to the rescue of underage victims involved in sexual exploitation.
10. Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock highlighted the global nature of organized crime groups targeting migration corridors.
These takeaways demonstrate the impact and success of Operation Turquesa V in combatting cyber-related human trafficking and migrant smuggling.