Millions of people are forced into human trafficking every year.

An Garda Síochána announced this week that will be participating in an EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) joint-action operation against human trafficking between 6th and 13th June 2022. The operation was implemented alongside participating European law enforcement authorities, Europol and Interpol. Between 6th and 13th June, Gardaí attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB), and the Border Management Unit (BMU) at Dublin Airport conducted 264 inspections on targeted flights and ferries at Dublin Airport, Cork Airport, Dublin Port and Rosslare Port, along with additional checks on buses between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. During the course of the operation, one case of concern was identified at Dublin Airport. A female suspect was arrested on suspicion of committing an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021. Following a period of detention, the suspect was released without charge. The matter remains under investigation. Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. According to statistics one in 200 people worldwide are slavery victims while forced marriages account for over 15 million trafficking victims. During a report conducted by the United Nations it was found that the most common form of human trafficking (79%) is sexual exploitation. The victims of sexual exploitation are predominantly women and girls.