Within the framework of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) for the priority criminal area of human trafficking, joint action days were conducted from June 8 to June 13, 2026. The Global Chain operational action, involving a total of 59 countries, aims to combat human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, child trafficking, as well as illegal migration, begging, and labor exploitation, all in order to uncover and prevent organized criminal groups and high-interest targets. This operational action is led by Austria, with co-leaders including Romania, Europol, Frontex, Interpol, and Ameripol.
During the operational phase, so-called joint action days were carried out. A Joint Coordination Center was established within the Ministry of Interior for this purpose. Representatives from 40 participating countries were deployed at the Center, conducting checks and exchanging information in real-time through Europol's information exchange channel - SIENA. At the national level, three criminal offenses of "forgery of documents" and 49 violations were uncovered, of which 42 were committed by 42 foreign nationals (17 from Albania, 16 from Turkey, three from Serbia, two each from India and the United Kingdom, and one each from Kosovo and Bulgaria) and seven violations committed by citizens of our country. The most common violation is "stay contrary to the stated purpose and reason." A case of illegal adoption has also been identified, and an investigation related to human trafficking through forced begging has been initiated.
In total, across all participating countries in the operation, 1,024 individuals were arrested (334 for human trafficking and 690 for other criminal offenses), 2,070 victims and potential victims were identified (1,908 adults and 162 minors), 201 additional suspects were identified, 465 new investigations were opened, and 80 cases of forged documents were uncovered.