Authorities in the Balkans have dealt a blow to organized crime groups by arresting 72 suspected traffickers and 167 migrant smugglers in an INTERPOL-led operation.
Codenamed Theseus, the operation saw 3,000 officers from immigration, justice and specialized units dispatched to hotspots including border points, train and bus stations and entertainment districts.
From there, they monitored 1,500 flights, carried out 2.5 million passenger checks and 54,000 vehicle checks.
The trafficking victims, who were from 14 different countries, were found working in precarious conditions of sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced begging.
Social services and victim assistance were provided to all those rescued.