A man in his 50s has been charged in connection with an investigation into alleged human trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced criminality.
He was arrested in Co. Monaghan on Monday and is due to appear before Monaghan District Court at 10:30am this morning.
The arrest was carried out by Gardaí attached to the Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-Ordination Unit (HTICU) at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB). The man was detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in the north eastern region.
The arrest followed what Gardaí described as “an ongoing investigation into human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced criminality.”
In a statement issued this week, Gardaí encouraged potential victims to come forward, saying: “An Garda Síochána appeal to anyone who may be the victim of human trafficking for sexual exploitation to come forward and speak with them at any Garda Station in person or by phone, or by calling the freephone Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111.”
Members of the public who may have relevant information are also being asked to assist the investigation.
“Anyone that has information related to human trafficking for sexual or labour exploitation is encouraged to contact Gardaí,” the statement said.
The Garda National Protective Services Bureau added that it remained committed to victim support and prosecution of offenders.
“The Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) is committed to supporting every victim of human trafficking,” the statement read, “and to bringing those to justice who are intent on exploiting people for their own personal gain.”
A response to a Parliamentary Question from Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire Barry Ward tabled in January indicated an increase in the number of human trafficking victims recorded by the Department of Justice in 2023.
According to then-Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, 53 victims were identified in 2023, compared to 42 in 2022. This marks a one-third increase on the number identified in 2020, which was the lowest figure since records began in 2015 – a year that saw reduced travel due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Ireland was again placed on the United States Department of State’s Tier 2 list in 2024. The country was previously classified as Tier 1 until 2021. Tier 2 status refers to countries whose governments do not fully meet the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), but are making significant efforts to achieve compliance.
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