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EU acts on crime

trafficingThe European Union has mounted its biggest crackdown on organised crime which resulted in more than 1,000 arrests.

All kinds of crimes came under the microscope, from drug and people trafficking to tax fraud and counterfeiting of goods and currency.

Police forces within the EU coordinated their swoops under the aegis Operation Archimedes, according to the EU's law enforcement agency Europol.

In addition to all the 28 member countries, police forces in Australia, Colombia, Serbia, Switzerland, Norway and the USA took part.

Concerning people trafficking, 170 arrests were made.

Europol director Rob Wainwright said there was a growing trend of victims being recruited and trafficked across Europe.

Children are being exploited for sexual and economic purposes, with some forced into prostitution and others into street begging, he added.

About 10,000 irregular migrants were checked as part of the operation, Europol said.

The illegal drugs seized included 1.3 tonnes of cannabis, 200kg of heroin and 600kg of cocaine.

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