07 July 2026 Romania co-led a global operation against human trafficking spanning 59 countries that resulted in more than 1,000 arrests and the identification of over 2,000 victims and potential victims, Europol announced. The five-day operation targeted trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and forced begging, with a particular focus on child victims. Operation GLOBAL CHAIN took place between June 8 and 12 under the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), with Austria serving as the action leader and Romania as co-leader. Europol, INTERPOL, and Frontex coordinated and supported the operation. More than 40,000 officers from law enforcement, border guards, labor inspectorates, tax authorities, and customs agencies participated in the operati