The German Criminal Inspectorate (Karlsruhe Kriminalinspektion) and the Hungarian National Bureau of Investigation THB Unit (Nemzeti Nyomozó Iroda Emberkereskedelem Elleni Osztály), supported by Europol, have dismantled a criminal network involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The investigation resulted in a simultaneous action day in Germany and Hungary on 15 January 2025.

The investigation into this criminal network was initiated in 2023. The suspects recruited the victims, young women from Hungary, via the so-called lover boy method or by seducing them with the false promise of good work opportunities abroad. The victims originated from the same region in Hungary and came from particularly fragile socio-economic environments.  

Once the victims were under their control, the suspects transported them to Germany. There, the suspects forced the victims into street prostitution often while coercing them through violence. The alleged traffickers are all male except for one woman who oversaw the victims at the place of prostitution. 

The actions led to:

• 9 house searches (1 in Germany and 8 in Hungary)
• 7 arrests (3 in Germany and 4 in Hungary)
• 11 victims identified in Germany and Hungary
• Seizures including: 2 real estate properties, 2 vehicles, phones, documents and cash.

The lover boy scam

The ‘lover boy’ technique is widely used by criminals to recruit victims facing economic and social hardship. The suspects target their victims’ vulnerabilities and seduce them with expensive gifts and promises of a better life abroad. Many victims end up leaving their families in search of love and new opportunities in other countries. Once they find themselves in their new home abroad, they are forced into prostitution to earn money for their handler. The victims are lured with affection, violence and even threats against them and their families back home.

Europol's support

Europol coordinated the operational activities, facilitated the exchange of information and provided analytical support. During the action day, Europol deployed an expert on the spot to cross-check operational information in real time and support investigators on the field.