Guinea-Bissau police rescue 71 trafficking victims
Operation ASTRA dismantled a human trafficking ring that lured victims with promises of work abroad.
Police in Guinea-Bissau rescued 71 people from various West African nations on October 22, 2026, in an operation that dismantled a human trafficking network. The operation, named ASTRA, led to the arrest of four suspects. The victims, originally from Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, were lured with promises of jobs in Canada, Europe, and the United States.
According to the Judicial Police (PJ) spokesperson Braima Cissé, the victims were brought to Bissau and held against their will. PJ agent António Gomes told AFP that the victims faced physical and psychological pressure, including threats and abuse, and were forced into pyramid schemes to recruit new members via social media. The network allegedly provided false office details in Canada, the United States, and Portugal to appear legitimate.
Interpol's information aided the dismantling of the network, which investigators believe operated across several countries in the sub-region. The rescued individuals will be handed over to their respective embassies, with others needing to contact family for assistance to return home.
Why it matters71 people from several West African countries were rescued from a human trafficking ring in Guinea-Bissau.