Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

A large international police operation coordinated by INTERPOL has helped protect thousands of vulnerable people and exposed major human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks around the world. The operation, known as Liberterra III, took place from November 10 to 21, 2025, and involved law enforcement agencies from 119 countries. During this period, officers worked together to identify victims, arrest suspects, and disrupt criminal groups that profit from exploiting people. Authorities reported that 4,414 potential victims of human trafficking were safeguarded during the operation. At the same time, officers detected 12,992 irregular migrants while carrying out checks at borders, airports, roads,…

Indonesia’s government has repatriated 90 of its citizens who were discovered working in illegal online gambling operations in Myanmar. The move is part of an ongoing effort to rescue Indonesians believed to have been exploited in scam and gambling centers in the border region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens worked closely with the Indonesian embassies in Yangon and Bangkok to arrange the workers’ return. The group arrived safely at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on January 22. The workers were found during security raids in Myanmar’s Myawaddy area, located in Kayin State near…

Gregory Bovino, a senior U.S. Border Patrol commander, is becoming widely known as a leading figure in President Donald Trump’s strong immigration enforcement campaign. Often seen in tactical gear during operations, Bovino has taken a visible role in raids aimed at arresting undocumented migrants across major American cities. His name gained more attention after recent immigration operations in Minneapolis. These operations led to protests and serious public debate after federal agents fatally shot a 37-year-old ICU nurse, Alex Pretti. The Trump administration said Pretti was armed and posed a threat to officers. However, video footage from the scene raised questions,…

French authorities have detained two British nationals suspected of traveling to northern France to support a banned far-right protest targeting migrants. The arrests took place near Calais, a key coastal area where many migrants attempt to cross the English Channel to the United Kingdom. According to local officials, the two men were broadcasting live videos from the French coast before they were taken into custody on Sunday evening. François-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, confirmed that the arrests were linked to concerns about anti-migrant activities in the region. Prosecutor Cécile Gressier in Boulogne-sur-Mer said the men, aged 35 and 53,…

Italian authorities carried out a new eviction of homeless migrants who had been staying in abandoned buildings in the Porto Vecchio area of Trieste, a port city in northeastern Italy. The operation was coordinated by the local prefect’s office and involved several police forces, health workers, and humanitarian groups. Officials said the action followed earlier safety concerns in the area, especially after repeated fires in December forced the closure of three old warehouses. Authorities explained that the goal was to secure the zone and move asylum seekers into official reception centers across Italy as part of regular transfer efforts. According…

Officials in Italy’s southern Puglia region have confirmed they will continue plans to build accommodation for migrant workers in Brindisi, despite a fire that damaged the construction site in what authorities believe was an arson attack. Regional leaders say the incident will not stop efforts to improve living conditions for seasonal foreign workers. Silvia Miglietta, Puglia’s Councillor for Migration Policies, visited the damaged site shortly after the fire. The facility is part of a housing project designed to accommodate migrant workers legally employed in the area. During her visit, Miglietta expressed solidarity with the local community and reassured residents that…

The government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced that it will begin registering all undocumented migrants in the country starting next Friday under a new Migration Registration Framework. The announcement was made by Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, who said the initiative is aimed at improving migration management and national security. The registration exercise will apply to all undocumented migrants living in Trinidad and Tobago, regardless of their nationality. The process will be carried out by the Ministry of Homeland Security in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, as part of a coordinated government effort to collect accurate data…

Indonesia and Japan’s Kagawa Prefecture have reached a new agreement to place about 2,000 Indonesian migrant workers in Japan under a bilateral labor cooperation program. The agreement is part of ongoing efforts by both countries to strengthen legal and structured labor migration while meeting workforce needs in key Japanese industries. The memorandum of cooperation was signed on January 23 between Indonesia’s Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers, Mukhtarudin, and Kagawa Governor Toyohito Ikeda. The agreement covers several sectors, including manufacturing, hospitality, construction, and caregiving, which continue to face labor shortages in Japan. Under the agreement, Indonesia will deploy around…

Germany has joined a group of European Union countries working on a plan to create migrant return hubs in third countries, as part of wider efforts to tighten migration controls and increase deportations. The plan would allow migrants whose asylum claims are rejected to be transferred to countries outside the EU while arrangements are made for their return to their home nations. The move was confirmed after discussions held on the sidelines of an EU interior ministers’ meeting in Cyprus. Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, said the participating countries aim to develop a clear roadmap and agree on concrete next…

Malaysia’s migrant recruitment industry has become a highly profitable business for recruiters, agents, and political insiders, but for workers, it often leads to debt, exploitation, and broken promises. Thousands of migrant workers, especially from Bangladesh, borrow huge sums of money to secure jobs in Malaysia, only to arrive and discover that the promised work does not exist or pays far less than expected. One such case is that of Shofiqul Islam, a Bangladeshi farm worker who borrowed about $4,400 to take a construction job in Malaysia. After arriving, he was dropped in a crowded and poorly maintained dormitory near Kuala…