Over 100 people charged with human trafficking in Denmark

Some are criminals, some are breaking the law to help

Some 109 people have been charged with human trafficking in Denmark during the first seven weeks of 2016, reports Metroxpress.

In the first half of 2015, the figure was 72.

READ MORE: Rise in human trafficking cases fuelled by refugee crisis

One month in prison
“Some are criminals, while others, who break the law, are trying to help,” Kim Kliver, a police inspector at South Zealand and Lolland-Falster Police, told Metroxpress.

“There have been people who just did it one time, but we have also arrested one person who tried to smuggled 43 people into Denmark.”

The penalty for human trafficking in Denmark is a minimum of one month in prison.

READ MORE: Danes defying laws and transporting migrants to Sweden

Border controls work
Most of the traffickers live in Denmark or in the neighbouring countries, but tend to have the same ethnic background as the people they are trying to smuggle into the country, Kliver said.

The police co-operates with Europol when they arrest someone who belongs to an international network.

Dansk Folkeparti said the figures prove border controls work and that it plans to push for their extension.