Ninety victims, including 56 minors, victims of sexual exploitation and forced labor, were "
rescued
" during an operation carried out by Interpol in four West African countries at the beginning of December, announced the institution Wednesday, December 21.
“
An operation led by Interpol against criminal groups responsible for human trafficking and child exploitation in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Togo resulted in the rescue of 90 victims and arrest 15 suspected traffickers
,” the statement noted.
Among the people rescued during this operation carried out from December 5 to 12, "
56 were minors who were victims of sexual exploitation and forced labor in gold mines, in open-air markets or in private homes
", continues the text.
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“
As countries and police cooperate ... the net widens and more criminals are identified.
This is the very essence of Interpol
, ”said Jurgen Stock, the secretary general of the organization based in Lyon (south-eastern France), quoted in the press release.
In detail, a group of 35 victims, including eight minors, was rescued in Côte d'Ivoire, while two men "
wanted nationally for two years
" were arrested.
In Burkina Faso, 10 miners were identified on their way “
to an illegal gold mine, where they were promised work
”, and their “
employer
” was arrested.
In Benin, four children were “
freed from forced labour
” at the large open-air Dantokpa market in Cotonou.
Finally, in Togo, a Nigerian national was intercepted on her way to Mali in the company of five women, including three minors destined "
to work in clubs where they would be sexually exploited
", indicates Interpol.
