At least 15 Sri Lankan men were among many thousands detected and over 1,000 persons arrested in an international ‘sting’ anti human trafficking operation carried out in the African region and beyond, officials said.
Law enforcement officers from 54 countries, from Interpol and and Afripol took part in the operation known as “Flash-weka” in two phases between May and June to dismantle the organised crime networks behind human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Africa and beyond.
Using Interpol’s global criminal databases, local law enforcement worked with Interpol and Afripol to locate, intercept and stop criminals operating across borders.
“The leads generated by Operation Flash-weka will no doubt result in further arrests, bringing to justice those who traffic in human misery,” officials said.
Intelligence received in Sierra Leone via Interpol triggered a police raid rescuing 15 suspected trafficking victims, all men from Sri Lanka, the officials said during a raid a hotel in Lomé, Togo authorities rescued.