The Hungarian police again took part in an international operation organised by Europol. This time the focus was on the prevention and eradication of sexual exploitation, coercion and forced begging.
European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) is a multidisciplinary EU law enforcement initiative based on intelligence and evidence to address the most important criminal threats to the European Union.
In line with this objective, the international operation was organised between 24-30 October 2022, with the participation of more than 30 countries, including Hungary, Eurojust, Europol and Frontex, to prevent, identify and combat trafficking in human beings, including specifically sexual exploitation, coercion and forced begging, and to eradicate related criminal behaviour.
As in previous successful international operations, the Anti-Trafficking Unit the Criminal of the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as the law enforcement personnel of all county police headquarters was involved.
Several county police headquarters (Baranya, Fejér, Hajdú-Bihar, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Tolna) also successfully carried out arrests during the operation. Investigators questioned ten persons as suspects for the crimes of trafficking in human beings and forced labour. All of the suspects are Hungarian nationals, 4 of whom are suspected of having committed forced labour and 6 of having committed trafficking for sexual exploitation. During the raids, 13 victims were identified. Of these, 7 are victims of sexual exploitation (5 minors), while 6 are victims of forced labour (5 men and 1 woman).
The Hungarian police will continue to proactively participate in the international law enforcement fight against trafficking in human beings and forced labour, and will continue to play an active role in future EMPACT activities.
For more information on the activities of the National Police Headquarters under EMPACT, please visit: