William Molinié 7:35 a.m., March 21, 2022, modified at 7:36 a.m., March 21, 2022

The European authorities warn against the risks of trafficking in human beings at the borders of Ukraine.

The war forces millions of families to leave their homes, which generally have no place to stay.

Prostitution, domestic slavery, disappearance of children… Criminal organizations see this as an opportunity.

The war forces millions of families to leave their homes, which generally have no place to stay.

Prostitution, domestic slavery, disappearance of children… Criminal organizations see this as an opportunity.

Katia is a Frenchwoman who lives in Budapest, Hungary.

Like several volunteers, she helps Ukrainian refugees arriving by train to find places to stay in the capital.

But since the Russian invasion, she has counted around fifty families who have disappeared between Ukraine and their host country.

"There are Ukrainians who send a message: 'I am a mother, I have two children, I want to leave Ukraine, but I don't want to go to a refugee camp'", she explains on the microphone. from Europe 1. 

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"There are people who will respond to them by saying, 'I am in such a place, in such a country and I can welcome you.'

For the moment these are not really Ukrainian networks, but they are really networks that are outside”, assures Katia.

Risks of human trafficking

Domestic slavery or sexual exploitation for women and children, war is conducive to human trafficking, as explained by Geneviève Colas of Secours Catholique-Caritas France.

"They have needs, primary needs, immediate needs and people find themselves exploited in Poland," she explains.

"Women were offered accommodation in exchange for sex."

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For the moment, in France, we have not observed any repercussions on human trafficking networks.

“There is a risk, we are attentive, but it is still too early for it to be visible”, confides a specialized investigator to us.

"On the other hand, if the war were to have an impact, it would be more on the smuggling of cigarettes", continues a commissioner connoisseur of organized crime.

Several record seizures of illicit tobacco from Ukraine have also been made in recent years by French police.