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Trafficking in Human Beings The assistance of Eurojust

Trafficking in Human Beings The assistance of Eurojust. Ola Laurell National Member for Sweden Chair of the Trafficking Team Contact Point for Child Protection. European Parliament 10 June 2010. Eurojust. European Judicial Cooperation Unit: 27 National Members.

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Trafficking in Human Beings The assistance of Eurojust

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  1. Trafficking in Human BeingsThe assistance of Eurojust Ola LaurellNational Member for SwedenChair of the Trafficking TeamContact Point for Child Protection European Parliament 10 June 2010

  2. Eurojust • European Judicial Cooperation Unit: 27 National Members. • Set up in 2002 to improve the fight against serious cross-border crimes, especially when they are organised. • Coordinates actions concerning investigations and prosecutions. • Facilitates the cooperation between judicial authorities in the MS and third states. • Centre of expertise in international judicial matters.

  3. New Directive on THB • The effect on Eurojust’s operational activities? • Additional forms of exploitation: forced begging; exploitation of criminal activities; removal of organs. • Lack of differentiation in the level of penalties according to the gravity of the offences is addressed. • Extended jurisdiction – Big impact • Focused on protection and assistance of victims, especially children.

  4. Eurojust is keeping an eye on organised crime!

  5. Case 1 France • French authorities started an investigation in 2004 after an armed robbery near Nimes in southeast France. The victims were Bulgarian prostitutes. Bulgarian OC group controlling an international prostitution network of more than 100 women from Bulgaria. • The criminal network was directed from jail in Bulgaria via telephone and fax by the main suspect. • Hierarchical structure based on family connections. • Links with other OC groups for money laundering purposes.

  6. AMSTERDAM ROTTERDAM VIENNA NANTES MILAN TOULOUSE NIMES MONTPELLIER NICE ROME BARCELONA

  7. Case 1 • The OC group controlled the women by violent means, frequently using kidnapping, fraud, aggression, threats, violence and even murder to maintain their business. • The women did not stay long in the same location. After a certain time, they were transferred to other cities or countries. • An example: one of the prostitutes started to work at the age of 18. Before the network was dismantled, she had been working in Milan, Montpellier, Lyon, Rotterdam and then back to Lyon and Montpellier. • Coordinated actions by France, Bulgaria and Italy in 2007.

  8. Working in legal prostitution

  9. Case 1 • 13 EAWs issued by French authorities. • Profits estimated at 10 million EUR. • If the women behaved and were productive, they were able to keep 30%. The OC group kept 70%. The head of the group retained 20% for himself. • Money transfers via Western Union worth 2.5 million Euros. • Money laundering: use of business structures in Bulgaria and other countries.

  10. Case 1 - The role of Eurojust • France issued EAWs towards two main suspects serving sentences in Bulgaria. • Legal constraint: suspects already serving sentences for same type of crime. Bulgaria claimed that they could not be prosecuted because the first indictment covered the ”new crimes”- ne bis in idem. • Eurojust opened a case on the request of France. After a number of contacts, both formal and informal, Eurojust held a coordination meeting in The Hague, bringing prosecutors and investigators from the involved countries together.

  11. Case 1 - The role of Eurojust Results • French authorities managed under the facilitation of Eurojust to provide satisfactory justification that the ”French crimes” were not the same as the ”Bulgarian crimes”. The EAWs were acccepted. • Temporary surrender of the two main suspects to France. • Surrendered in 2008 for interviews and attendance at the trial in France. • Sentenced in France to 8 and 6 years, respectively, in 2009. • 2010: both back in Bulgaria to serve their senteces.

  12. Case 2 THB linked to other crimes • Main crime: drug trafficking involving Italy, the Netherlands and Colombia. • Nigerian OC group: women transported through NL to IT, FR and ES and forced into prostitution. • Prostitution money used to finance cocaine purchases in Colombia. • Coordination meeting at Eurojust.Results: 62 people arrested Connection between THB and drug trafficking proved

  13. Information and contact • Team Trafficking and Related Crimes:teamtraffickingandrelatedcrimes@eurojust.europa.eu • Generic e-mail address for law enforcement authorities and international organisations:childprotection@eurojust.europa.eu • Eurojust Child Protection webpage: www.eurojust.europa.eu/childprotect.htm

  14. Thank you for your attention!

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