Eurojust-Coordinated Operation Leads to Arrest of 22 Members of Human Trafficking Ring in Italy and Bulgaria

Eurojust-Coordinated Operation Leads to Arrest of 22 Members of Human Trafficking Ring in Italy and Bulgaria

(IN BRIEF) Italian and Bulgarian authorities, with the support of Eurojust, have apprehended 22 individuals associated with an organized crime group (OCG) involved in human trafficking. The OCG exploited numerous female victims, coercing them into prostitution through deceptive promises of employment opportunities. Utilizing the ‘lover boy’ method, members of the OCG lured vulnerable women from Eastern Europe, confiscated their passports, and forced them into prostitution under harsh conditions in Italy. Eurojust facilitated cooperation between Italian and Bulgarian authorities, aiding in the execution of European Investigations Orders and Mutual Legal Assistance requests. During the joint action day, Eurojust supported the swift execution of European Arrest Warrants for suspects residing in Bulgaria, demonstrating effective cross-border collaboration in combating human trafficking.

(PRESS RELEASE) THE HAGUE, 16-Mar-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — With Eurojust support, authorities in Italy and Bulgaria have arrested 22 alleged members of an organised crime group (OCG), which forced tens of female victims into prostitution. During a coordinated action day earlier this week, most of the often relatively young victims were brought to safety. The mainly Bulgarian OCG was known for its heavy use of violence.

Specific members of the OCG used the so-called ‘lover boy’ method, pretending to engage personally with women from a poor background in Bulgaria and other countries in Eastern Europe and promising them good job opportunities in Italy. In reality, their passports were taken away and the victims were forced into prostitution in Italy in dire conditions.

The OCG had a clear division of roles, with certain members being responsible for luring the victims to Italy and others taking care of transport and controlling them, occasionally under extreme duress.

The Italian authorities started investigating the OCG in 2021, and a year later Eurojust was contacted to coordinate the cooperation with their counterparts in Bulgaria, via the National Desks of both countries at the Agency.

Eurojust provided support with the execution of European Investigations Orders and requests for Mutual Legal Assistance, as well as the setting up of a coordination meeting. During the joint action day, assistance was also provided to the three competent Bulgarian Prosecution Offices in order to rapidly execute European Arrest Warrants for seven of the suspects, who were residing in Bulgaria.

The tracing and arrest activities in Bulgaria were carried out via the European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams, specifically by the Bulgarian team, upon activation by their counterparts in Italy, which provided constant information.

The operations on the ground were carried out at the request of and by:

• Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Lecce; Italian State Police HQ of Lecce; Fugitive Active Search Team (FAST) Italy, at the Service for International Police Cooperation (SCIP) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Bulgaria: FAST Bulgaria, at the General Directorate of the National Police – Wanted and Missing Persons Unit.

Media Contact:

Phone: + 31 70 412 55 00
media@eurojust.europa.eu

SOURCE: EUROJUST