An international operation targeting criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling across the Mediterranean Sea and West African Atlantic route has resulted in 262 arrests and 434 new investigations, INTERPOL has said.
The organisation said in a statement on Tuesday that authorities identified 41 organised criminal groups involved in migrant smuggling during the four-day operation.
It cited a case in which Libyan authorities rescued 34 potential victims of human trafficking and arrested three suspects over their alleged involvement in an organised criminal group engaged in human trafficking, migrant smuggling and extortion.
INTERPOL said officers also checked more than 378,000 individuals, monitored hotspots, strengthened screening at key locations and pursued investigative leads.
The operation also led to the identification of 109 potential victims and the detection of 1,715 irregular migrants, it said.
