Between 17 and 20 September in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, 76 experts from 27 countries joined forces to monitor, detect and investigate leads on human trafficking activities enabled by the internet.
Online-enabled human trafficking is a growing threat that transcends borders.
While the surface web remains a key tool for human traffickers, the complexity of identifying exploitation indicators online presents significant challenges.
Europol and its partners are using international cooperation and technological expertise to counter these threats, working to protect vulnerable individuals and dismantle criminal networks. This joint action aimed to identify key indicators of human trafficking on online platforms, explore how legal business structures may be misused by traffickers and advance new criminal investigations.
The experts also participated in workshops and training events that addressed pressing challenges such as the criminal use of social networks for organ trafficking, the use of cryptocurrencies and crypto patterns, the identification of trafficking on gaming platforms and other technical aspects of online investigations into human trafficking.
During the action days, the investigators focused on gathering knowledge on how criminals use online advertisements to recruit victims and facilitate transport and accommodation.
The experts identified a dark web site where hundreds of human traffickers offer a range of services involving both male and female victims of all ages. The prices vary from $800 to $2,000 an hour, based on the age and ‘skills’ of the victims. A permanent ‘home’ boy or girl is sold for between $20,000 and $60,000 on the same website.
The investigators also aimed to identify platforms that may facilitate human trafficking and exploitation on a crime-as-a-service basis. Their online investigation covered the potential trafficking and exploitation of Ukrainian victims, as well as the use of lesser-known social media platforms to facilitate human trafficking. The experts identified a new phenomenon – e-pimping.
This emerging trend is of increasing interest to perpetrators. The investigators detected two platforms that offer ‘lifestyle courses’ and training for men who want to become ‘OnlyFans’ managers, essentially instructing them how to become e-pimps and exploit women.
Europol supported the coordination of the operational activities, facilitated the exchange of information and provided analytical support. On the action day, Europol deployed one expert to the coordination centre to facilitate the information exchange in real-time and cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases.
This provided the participating officers from the national law enforcement authorities with further investigative leads.
