Law enforcement authorities across north-west Europe have dismantled elements of an alleged human trafficking network that exploited mainly Indian nationals in the restaurant trade, Europol says. The coordinated action, led from the Netherlands and supported by Europol, identified more than 70 potential victims and resulted in two arrests on 18 September 2026.
Scope and methods of exploitation
The investigation alleges that victims were compelled to work in restaurants for up to 16 hours a day, were paid less than the legal minimum and were prevented from leaving the country. Authorities say the criminal group used pressure on victims and their relatives in India and psychological coercion to force compliance and to deter complaints to officials.
Investigators also suspect the same criminal practices occurred in outlets connected to the same Indian restaurant chain in several countries, including Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland. Europol reported the network generated at least €4 million in illicit profits by underpaying and exploiting workers.
Coordinated enforcement across five countries
The operation involved law enforcement and labour authorities from Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Inspections and coordinated enforcement activity took place on 18 September and included checks at multiple premises.
- Netherlands: 8 restaurants inspected
- Germany: 7 restaurants inspected
- Luxembourg: 2 restaurants inspected
- Switzerland: 2 restaurants inspected
- Belgium: 1 restaurant inspected
| Country | Inspections |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | 8 |
| Germany | 7 |
| Luxembourg | 2 |
| Switzerland | 2 |
| Belgium | 1 |
The action was coordinated from a centre established in Utrecht. The probe began after inspectors from the Dutch Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie) discovered serious abuses during routine checks. Following those findings, the Criminal Investigation Department (Opsporingsdienst) initiated a criminal investigation on behalf of the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Serious Fraud, Environmental Crime and Asset Confiscation (Functioneel Parket).
Legal failings and recruitment pathways
Prosecutors believe the suspects abused a legal provision that had been designed to facilitate the temporary placement of specialist Asian chefs in the sector. That provision has since expired. Authorities say the exploitation included deliberate underpayment and restricting workers’ freedom of movement, both hallmarks of labour trafficking.
Europol’s summary also notes investigators suspect the same pattern of offending was present in associated restaurants in other jurisdictions, including France, and that the network is likely transnational in organisation.
Two suspects were arrested during the coordinated operation; Europol and the national authorities did not publish further details of the identities of those detained or the precise charges they will face. Cases of this nature commonly lead to parallel inquiries into immigration offences, money laundering and breaches of employment law alongside trafficking charges.
The case highlights recurring vulnerabilities in the catering sector, where seasonal demand and specialised recruitment routes can be exploited by organised criminal groups. Labour inspectors and prosecutors have increasingly worked together in recent years to identify exploitation at its source and to follow the financial proceeds of offending.
Victim protection, repatriation and compensation are central to trafficking prosecutions. The cross-border element of this inquiry will require continued cooperation between judicial and labour authorities if cases proceed to trial and if victims are to have access to remedy.
