Between 17 and 20 September in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, 76 experts from 27 countries joined forces to monitor, detect and investigate leads on human trafficking activities enabled by the internet. Online-enabled human trafficking is a growing threat that transcends borders. While the surface web remains a key tool for human traffickers, the complexity of identifying exploitation indicators online presents significant challenges.

Europol and its partners are using international cooperation and technological expertise to counter these threats, working to protect vulnerable individuals and dismantle criminal networks. This joint action aimed to identify key indicators of human trafficking on online platforms, explore how legal business structures may be misused by traffickers and advance new criminal investigations.

The experts also participated in workshops and training events that addressed pressing challenges such as the criminal use of social networks for organ trafficking, the use of cryptocurrencies and crypto patterns, the identification of trafficking on gaming platforms and other technical aspects of online investigations into human trafficking.

Some of the results include:

• 252 entities checked (such as platforms, persons, usernames, locations and phone numbers)
• 40 online platforms checked (for sexual and labour exploitation and organ trafficking)
• 16 suspected human traffickers identified
• 60 potential victims of human trafficking identified

Modern time slavery – ‘home’ boy or girl sold for EUR 20 000

During the action days, the investigators focused on gathering knowledge on how criminals use online advertisements to recruit victims and facilitate transport and accommodation. The experts identified a dark web site where hundreds of human traffickers offer a range of services involving both male and female victims of all ages. The prices vary from USD 800 to USD 2 000 an hour, based on the age and ‘skills’ of the victims. A permanent ‘home’ boy or girl is sold for between USD 20 000 and USD 60 000 on the same website.

The investigators also aimed to identify platforms that may facilitate human trafficking and exploitation on a crime-as-a-service basis. Their online investigation covered the potential trafficking and exploitation of Ukrainian victims, as well as the use of lesser-known social media platforms to facilitate human trafficking. The experts identified a new phenomenon – e-pimping. This emerging trend is of increasing interest to perpetrators. The investigators detected two platforms that offer ‘lifestyle courses’ and training for men who want to become ‘OnlyFans’ managers, essentially instructing them how to become e-pimps and exploit women.