Human trafficking remains one of the world’s most profitable criminal activities, generating billions of dollars annually while exploiting millions of vulnerable people. On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, July 30, authorities are highlighting the evolving nature of the crime and warning that Greece is also facing rising challenges as trafficking networks adapt to new methods, including online exploitation.
According to international estimates, human trafficking is among the largest sources of illegal profits worldwide. Criminal networks involved in forced labor alone are estimated to generate approximately $236 billion annually, exploiting victims through forced work, sexual exploitation, and other forms of abuse.
The United Nations and European authorities have repeatedly warned that trafficking is not a static crime. Organized networks increasingly exploit migration pressures, economic hardship, conflict, and social vulnerability to recruit and control victims.
Greece Records Sharp Increase in Reported Cases
New data from Greece’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM), published by the National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA), shows a significant increase in identified trafficking cases.
The number of new reported cases rose from 465 in 2024 to 881 in 2025, representing almost a doubling within one year.
Authorities say the increase reflects both improved identification efforts and the growing complexity of trafficking networks. Among the emerging trends is a rise in labor exploitation and the exploitation of boys for criminal activities, known internationally as forced criminality.
Traffickers are also increasingly using digital platforms, creating what authorities describe as cyber-trafficking, where criminals use online anonymity, encrypted communication, and deceptive recruitment methods to target victims.
Changing Forms of Exploitation Across Europe
According to Eurostat data published in January 2026, sexual exploitation remained the most common form of recorded trafficking in Europe in 2024, accounting for 46% of registered victims.
However, the data also shows a significant long-term increase in trafficking for forced labor and services. Between 2008 and 2018, victims identified for forced labor represented between 14% and 21% of cases. Since 2019, that share has increased to between 28% and 41%.
The shift reflects broader changes in criminal networks, which increasingly exploit labor shortages, migration flows, and vulnerable workers.
Greece Strengthens Anti-Trafficking Measures
Greek authorities say combating human trafficking requires a coordinated approach combining criminal investigations, victim identification, protection services, and prevention.
The Ministry of Migration and Asylum has established a specialized Department for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking and Violence within the General Secretariat for Vulnerable Citizens and Institutional Protection. The department coordinates victim support policies, cooperation among agencies, and assistance for vulnerable groups, including children, women, and people with disabilities.
Greece is also preparing legislative changes to align national law with EU Directive 2024/1712, which updates European rules on combating human trafficking.
Protecting Victims and Preventing Exploitation
Key mechanisms include Greece’s National Referral Mechanism, which identifies and supports trafficking victims, and the Emergency Response Mechanism, which provides immediate protection and accommodation for vulnerable people, including unaccompanied minors.
Officials emphasize that prevention remains essential, particularly in sectors vulnerable to exploitation, including tourism, agriculture, supply chains, and domestic work.
“The fight against human trafficking is primarily a moral and institutional obligation,” said Heraklis Moskoff, Secretary-General for Vulnerable Citizens and Institutional Protection. He added that Greece’s response must combine prevention, law enforcement, education, and international cooperation.
Related: “Rescue Is Not a Crime”: Aid Workers Acquitted of Human Trafficking on Lesvos
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