Modern slavery - A simple way to hit traffickers

POLICE forces around the world admit that, if they are lucky, they manage to intercept just 10% of the narcotics drug smugglers move across national borders.

If the same ratio, or even one much less worrying, applies to human trafficking, then Ireland’s official figures are just a very small indication of what is going on in our towns and cities.

The relevance of those figures is challenged too by the fact that Irish courts have never convicted anyone of human trafficking, yet anyone who cares to look or listen can see that there are far more questions than answers surrounding this issue. Irish authorities have, however, contributed to trafficking convictions in other jurisdictions.