It’s been revealed that searches were conducted in Donegal and three other counties last month as part of a Europol operation against human trafficking for labour exploitation in the agricultural sector.
No human trafficking offences have been disclosed.
The operation was carried out between 14th and 21st September.
As part of the operation conducted by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, Gardaí from the Garda National Immigration Bureau accompanied by Gardaí from the Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-ordination Unit within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau along with personnel from the Workplace Relations Commission and the Revenue Commissioners, conducted a number of searches of premises in counties Donegal, Cavan, Dublin and Meath.
Over the course of the week, Gardaí and WRC officials met with and spoke to over 35 staff. No human trafficking offences were disclosed.
In addition to these searches, Gardaí also delivered a presentation on Human Trafficking to multiple agencies working in a Dublin-based Transit Centre.
It’s envisaged this presentation, which is targeted towards educating staff on how to identify potential signs, triggers and patterns that possible Human Traffickers may be using to recruit vulnerable people to try and exploit them in the agricultural sector, will be delivered in similar premises across Ireland in the near future.
