Family-run gang busted trafficking teens

A human trafficking ring made up mostly of gang-members from the same family was recently broken up by law enforcement in Romania and Hungary. The BBC reports that traffickers were keeping teenaged men and women in “slave-like” conditions at a site in Budapest. 

It’s a family affair 

Making false promises of good housing and high salaries a group of five men and three women lured more than 30 teenaged victims, into modern slavery. The traffickers were mostly from the same family and had been transporting victims from Romania to Hungary for over a decade. According to the police, many of the teens were particularly vulnerable as they had just left social care.

The Romanian prosecutors who specialize in fighting organized crime said: 

“The perpetrators’ favorite victims were those coming from foster care centers, who were easily persuaded and exploited by false promises,” 

Once under the trafficker’s “employ” teen victims were forced to work at a waste-recycling plant. Tellingly, when police busted the ring, they found victims living 25 to a room in unhygienic conditions. Law enforcement also seized documents, vehicles, and €100,000 in cash and gold jewelry belonging to the trafficking gang.  

Conditions were “physically and psychologically unbearable” 

The traffickers confiscated the teens’ travel documents and forced them to work for miniscule pay for a minimum of 12 hours a day, seven days a week. 

The prosecutors stated: 

“The victims were forced, including through acts of violence, to work hours that were physically and psychologically unbearable…and to live in inhumane conditions, under permanent surveillance.” 

Additionally, victims had to work outside in the cold with no proper protective equipment or clothing for the conditions. They were also denied enough food or any medical care when they became injured on the job.  

Call for policies that address the root causes of trafficking

This case underscores the systemic vulnerability of marginalized populations to human trafficking. With limited social safety nets, individuals leaving care systems often fall prey to traffickers who exploit their desperation. The situation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policies that address the root causes of trafficking, including lack of access to safe migration pathways and robust labor protections.

Freedom United’s safe migration ends human trafficking campaign advocates for solutions that address these vulnerabilities. By promoting regularized migration routes and protections for displaced individuals, the campaign seeks to reduce the risks of exploitation. When safe migration pathways are unavailable, traffickers exploit the gaps, forcing people into dangerous conditions akin to modern slavery.

The dismantling of this trafficking ring is a significant victory, but it also reveals the need for systemic reforms to protect vulnerable people worldwide. Join Freedom United in demanding safe migration policies that can prevent exploitation and support human rights.