European police swoop on Chinese human traffickers

European police have arrested 26 suspects in a four-country swoop aimed at rooting out Chinese gangs involved in human trafficking, Europol said today.
Police in Austria, Cyprus, Slovenia and Switzerland pounced on 288 Chinese-owned businesses, checking some 1,154 people, mainly from China, in the operation on Monday and Wednesday.
"Twenty-six people were arrested and 14 potential victims of trafficking were identified," Europol said from its Hague-based headquarters.
"During the operation, restaurants, places of prostitution were checked... And intensive checks were also conducted at major international airports which were assessed as being potential nexus points for trafficking victims from China."
Some 455 police officers took part in the raids.

Europol said the operation aimed at identifying people trafficked from China "and therefore enhancing the intelligence picture of crime groups and traffickers involved" in Europe.
The evidence showed a network of highly organised criminals that recruited people who were then trafficked to Europe using forged documents to work in brothels, massage parlours, nail studios and restaurants.
"Increased police checks continue to play an important role in the identification of human trafficking and to shed light on previously undetected crimes," Europol said.