Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) plays an integral role in working with law enforcement partners around the globe to deter, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks engaged in the crime, a news release said.
As part of the United Nations' commemoration of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, a team of U.S. federal investigators from Homeland Security Investigations and the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) met in Frankfurt, Germany, the week of July 25th to train their German law enforcement counterparts on the latest investigative techniques to combat human trafficking.
“International cooperation is critical, now more than ever," David Magdycz, acting assistant director of HSI International Operations said in a statement. "HSI works with partners globally to share best practices and overcome barriers in the transnational fight against human traffickers and the networks that facilitate and profit from modern-day slavery."
David Magdycz, acting assistant director of HSI International Operations said in a statement. "We will continue to leverage our broad authorities, amplified by international and domestic partnerships such as those with IRS-CI, to identify and protect victims of trafficking, while bringing perpetrators to justice.”
About 20 prosecutors and law enforcement officials from the State Criminal Police Offices of Berlin, Saxony and Hesse; the German Federal Police; the German Federal Criminal Police and the Financial Intelligence Unit participated in the training session, July 28 as did representatives from the Swiss non-governmental organization "Trafficked Victim Unit", the news release said.
Kareem Carter, acting executive director for IRS-CI Global Operations and Policy Support added, “Almost all criminal activity involves a financial component. That’s why it’s important to understand how to analyze suspicious transactions and identify money laundering indicators when investigating trafficking crimes.”
