The data
Every case on SlaveryMap, drawn from public sources and shown with its location deliberately generalized to protect survivors.
631 of 1,631 cite a source · Updated
Showing 1–24 of 66
Myanmar
260 people from 20 nationalities rescued from cyber scam compounds. Victims from Ethiopia Kenya Philippines Pakistan forced to run online fraud Accused: Chinese-national criminal syndicates operating border compounds.
Cambodia
215 foreigners freed from three-storey scam building. 109 Thais 50 Pakistanis 48 Indians. Largest single-building rescue Accused: Cross-border scam syndicate.
Thailand
Indian nationals rescued from scam compound after being recruited with fake IT job offers. Passports confiscated beaten for failing quotas Accused: Indian-Chinese recruitment network.
United Kingdom GB
Vulnerable women and children from Eastern Europe were trafficked into the UK and exploited by organized crime groups to commit large-scale shoplifting. Victims were housed in overcrowded accommodation and used to steal high-value retail goods for criminal networks.
Myanmar
Following a 2023 crackdown on cyber scam compounds along the China-Myanmar border, an estimated 45,000 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in forced scam operations were repatriated to China. Accused: Chinese and Myanmar-based cyber scam syndicates operating compounds in northern Shan state.
United Kingdom GB
Vietnamese migrants smuggled into the UK, many by small boat, often arrive owing large debts to smuggling gangs. An ITV News investigation found some working illegally in nail salons, while those with the largest debts are forced into cannabis farming: one man who borrowed £20,000 from loan sharks said he was locked inside a cannabis house for a year and never paid.
Cambodia
Malaysian citizens rescued from cybercrime compounds. Lured with fake job ads passports confiscated forced to run scam call centers Accused: Chinese-run criminal operations in casino compounds.
France FR
A Bosnian and Croatian married couple and their associates forced six Romani children to pickpocket in France. Bosnia and Herzegovina and France investigated the case jointly from 2015; eight defendants were indicted in May 2018, the traffickers were convicted in December 2022, and five were sentenced to prison in 2023.
United States US
Rogelio Serrano-Lara, 21, or Matamoros, Mexico, , appeared before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen on Nov. 15, 2011. Judge Hanen sentenced Serrano-Lara to 120 months in federal prison for his role in an alien smuggling/transportation conspiracy According to court documents, on Sept. 26, 2011 as part of the sentencing hearing, the government presented six witnesses in support of an upward departure of the U.S. sentencing guidelines. Among the witnesses that testified was a 29-year-old woman from El Salvador who stated she was raped by Serrano-Lara. Additional testimony was presented by her daughter and law enforcement officials. Serrano-Lara faced a maximum of 37 months in prison based on the U.S. sentencing guidelines, but upon hearing from the government's witnesses previously and the defense on Oct. 31, 2011 the judge enhanced his sentencing to 120 months. Serrano-Lara pleaded guilty on June 9. 2011 to transporting an alien within the United States. On April 27, 2011 during Serrano-Lara's plea hearings, the government's evidence indicated that ICE HSI received information concerning a stash house used for harboring illegal aliens. Upon attempting a consensual search of a residence on Sybil Street in Brownsville, multiple subjects fled, but agents managed to arrest 13 illegal aliens. Further investigation led to the indictment of Hector Josue Velasquez-Cruz, 29, of Honduras, for concealing or harboring a certain illegal alien for commercial advantage and private financial gain. According to court documents, Velasquez-Cruz admitted to being the caretaker of the residence for four months in exchange for passage to Houston. At the time of his arrest, 34 illegal aliens had arrived and departed from the stash house during the 17 days Velasquez-Cruz had served as caretaker of the Sybil residence. The investigation also revealed that Yered Esquivel-Medina, 23, of Michoacan, Mexico, had arrived at the residence on the date of the apprehensions. He served as the brush guide for the illegal aliens during their trip to Houston by guiding them around the U.S. Customs and Border Protection checkpoint. Through interviews, the agents learned that the 29-year-old woman and her family had traveled by bus to Reynosa, Mexico, crossed the river on the following day, and were eventually transported to the Sybil residence by Serrano-Lara. Upon arrival at the Sybil residence, Serrano-Lara patted them down one by one and robbed them of their money. Later, when the woman's 21-year-old niece and 13-year-old daughter began to cry, Serrano-Lara threatened to kill them and told them he was with the Zetas. Court records revealed, the El Salvadorian woman was in the kitchen on her second day at the Sybil residence when Serrano-Lara pulled her into the smaller bedroom and told her to surrender herself to him. When she refused, he threatened to rape her daughter instead. She explained how she felt she had no choice and Serrano-Lara proceeded to sexually assault her. During the investigation of Serrano-Lara, other illegal aliens reported that he had robbed them of their money as they arrived at the residence and were transported in the trunk of the vehicle. Velasquez-Cruz pleaded guilty on June 9 to harboring an illegal alien and was sentenced last month to 15 months in prison. Esquivel-Medina pleaded guilty on July 27 to conspiracy to transport and harbor an alien within the United States. He is pending sentencing for Dec. 15. All three men have been in custody since their arrest.
Kenya KE
Yes, Law Enforcement was involved. Mutei was taken into custody where he pleaded guilt to both charges of abduction and human trafficking. He was sentenced to 17 years in jail and a $50,000 fine.
United States US
Albaro Estrada Dominguez and Mario-Beltran Torres are facing charges of conspiracy to commit hostage taking. Following their arrest, 14 people were discovered inside Needville home, according to ICE. All were held against their will. Thirteen were from Guatemala and one was from El Salvador. Dominguez and Torres are two of five suspects believed to be involved in this operation. In this case, investigators say the undocumented immigrants were being held for ransom. Investigators say the suspects had guns and threatened to kill those they were allegedly holding against their will. It's not surprising neighbors were not suspicious. "They didn't let the people they were detaining there mingle around outside," said Chief Craig Brady with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. "They'd bring them in under the cover of darkness, keep them inside the house, so no one knew they were there." Investigators say the coyotes contacted their loved ones and were attempting to extort more money than they'd already paid, in exchange for their safe release. Chief Brady explained, "The initial charge was supposed to have been $1,000, and they were wanting an additional $2,500."
Togo TG
The Kadza Yeve shrine took in "yevesi" shrine servants, a form of ritual servitude. As Yeve, every part of the victim's life is strictly controlled by the shrine and there are substantial punishments for offenses. The priest freed the 55 shrine servants associated with the shrine on March 25, 2010, after becoming a Christian.
Togo TG
The priest volunteered to free his shrine servants with the collaboration of Every Child Ministries after he became a Christian. The victim in this case was a 55 year old woman who was taken into the shrine "very young" by her father, but never knew the reason. Because of this she was never able to attend school.
United States US
The article: AUSTIN (KXAN) - A victim of a suspected human trafficking ring escapes, appearing at a North Austin convenience store bloody and wearing very little clothing. One man, 44-year-old Santiago Ramirez Cruz, is charged with unlawful restraint expose to serious bodily injury and immigration and naturalization service detainer, both felony charges. Austin police say the victim escaped through the window of the Mi Casa apartment complex at 7200 Duval Street. The victim stopped for help a couple of blocks away at the Haven Food Mart at 614 East St. Johns Avenue. The victim had injuries to the hands from breaking the glass during the escape. The family allegedly paid the suspected smugglers $2,100 to bring the victim into the country.
United States US
The defendant forced Filipino victims to work in her elderly care business and confiscated their passports, threatening them if they left
United States US
Louis Peroulis, Stanley Peroulis and Crisologo Damian. The Peroulis' own the farm where the sheepherders were held. Damian is the recruiter. They recruit sheepherders from Peru under a legal governmental agency but then charge exorbitant fees for the travel and keep the workers in terrible conditions without access to their travel documents.
United States US
a company placed a ad on cragi's list for young men and women to travel and sell magazines door to door. Tow victims answered the ad and got the job and after which they became victims of trafficking.
Brazil BR
The human trafficking ring in question would charge Brazillian emigrants up to $15,000 for false documents and to be smuggled into the U.S. There, members of the gang would abduct the emigrants and demand ransom for them from their families. The U.S. Consulate reported, “They left from Brazil and went initially to Guatemala, from where J.C.'s coyotes (migrant smugglers) guided the clients across Mexico to the border with the United States border.” In some of the cases, migrants were abducted in Texas, and their families were asked for ransoms of up to $10,000. The abducted migrants were often tortured or threatened with mutiliation. Investigations began when J.C. was arrested on charges of forging passports in July 2010. Subsequently, twelve members of the gang were arrested. Ten of those arrests took place in Governador Valadares.
United Kingdom GB
James Watt, 27, his girlfriend, Natasha Oldfield, 29, and his brother Richard's girlfriend, Nichola Roberts, 22, were jailed FOR LIFE for murder today Watt will serve a minimum of 36 years, Oldfield a minimum of 18 and Roberts a minimum of 15. James's brother, Robert Watt, 20, and his mother, Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, were jailed for eight years and 10 years respectively for familial homicide. A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, who previously pleaded guilty to familial homicide was sentenced to six years in prison. James, Robert and Richard Watt had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and, on Friday, Roberts, Oldfield and Smith-Dennis were convicted by the jury.
United States US
Current investigation of human trafficking ring
United States US
A coalition of agencies called IIMPACT, which includes the DPS, Phoenix police and federal immigration officials, began investigating the home following a tip of a possible drophouse near 79th Avenue and Camelback Road, said Bart Graves, a media relations coordinator for the Department of Public Safety. Authorities served a search warrant at the home about 1 p.m. Wednesday. When authorities arrived, five men and a woman who were believed to have held the immigrants scattered, Graves said. It took authorities about 20 minutes to find all the suspects and clear the area, but they were all eventually located and arrested on suspicion of human smuggling. The victims – two women, 11 men and three male juveniles ranging from elementary-school age to the 15-year-old boy who apparently traveled alone – appeared to be in relatively good condition. The victims were from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico, Graves said. In addition, the victims said they had been at another house where they suffered from violent acts. Authorities were still trying to locate that house. It is not uncommon to find more drophouses after the initial one, according to DPS. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/02/20100602west-phoenix-drophouse-abrk.html#ixzz0uLWDYq3z http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/6-arrested-for-human-smuggling-at-west-phoenix-drop-house http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/immigration/drop-house-bust-in-west-phoenix-6-2-2010
Mozambique MZ
A woman tried to smuggle the head and genitalia of a 10 year old boy across the border, hidden inside a plastic bag within a cooler full of food.
Somalia SO
The female victim disappeared while going to school as usual from Qardho in northeast Putland. She was found where she had been trafficked to in Hargeisa, Somaliland. The girl has been returned home to her family, who were glad to receive her.
United States US
Fousek allegedly approached two women outside Walmart and asked if they'd like to purchase his 6 month old daughter for $25.00. The two woman took the license place number and reported him to the police.