In a significant operation against human trafficking, seven individuals have been arrested as part of an international inquiry that spans Belgium and Poland.

Six of the suspects were apprehended in Roeselare, located in the Flemish province of West Flanders, while the remaining suspect was arrested in Poland.

This action was confirmed by Europol and the Bruges Department of the West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Additionally, eight other suspects were recently arrested in Poland, contributing to the ongoing investigation.

The inquiry into the trafficking network originated in Germany in September 2024, when law enforcement officials conducted a routine check that revealed irregularities in a driver's documentation.

The driver was subsequently arrested on suspicion of human trafficking after it was determined he may have transported migrants illegally.

Further investigations indicated that this individual was possibly part of a broader network that facilitated the illegal transport of up to 300 people to Germany and other EU countries from 2022 to 2024. A significant number of network members appeared to reside in Roeselare, functioning as intermediaries between German suspects and a Polish network, as reported by local media.

As investigations unfolded, the West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office identified two key figures in the trafficking operation, aged 34 and 35, who were reportedly responsible for recruiting drivers and managing the financial transactions within the network.

Many of these recruited drivers were said to be in precarious financial situations.

The network utilized the Balkan route for smuggling activities, reportedly transporting an average of 12 migrants at a time.

The suspects operated under the guise of a Polish transport company, employing tactics to obscure their illicit activities.

Investigators have suggested a potential connection between the Polish gang and the world of hockey hooliganism, as well as involvement in the trafficking of narcotics, including amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana.

Over the past few days, additional arrests have been made in Poland,

The International Day of Action against human trafficking coincided with a series of tactical house searches in the Roeselare region, led by the Bruges investigating judge.

Of the eight houses searched, two were associated with the principal suspects, leading to the detention of four men and four women, all between the ages of 27 and 35.

During these searches, law enforcement recovered a range of items such as mobile phones, vehicles, laptops, and various documents.

The prosecutor’s office has confirmed that six suspects have been formally arrested under suspicions of human trafficking and organized crime.

These individuals are set to be transferred to the German judicial system for further legal proceedings.

Furthermore, additional searches conducted in Germany resulted in the apprehension of a 30-year-old man.

Belgium has historically been a source, destination, and transit country for human trafficking, affecting both men, women, and children who are forced into labor and sexual exploitation.

The issue has been prevalent since the early 1990s, leading to greater public awareness and the establishment of a parliamentary commission in 1992 aimed at addressing trafficking through comprehensive counter-trafficking policies.

The legal framework in Belgium has evolved since the country criminalized human trafficking in 1995, differentiating between sexual and economic exploitation and instituting protections for victims, including residence permits for cooperating individuals.

Victims originating from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia have been reported, with many facing exploitation through forced prostitution and labor in industries such as agriculture and construction.

As a transit country, Belgium remains central to the movement of victims to other European nations, complicating legal determinations of trafficking versus smuggling or illegal employment.