Dutch prosecutor Petra Hoekstra has spent much of her career pursuing organised criminal networks, but one case stands out above all others. As she explained to UNODC, it was an investigation that uncovered a migrant smuggling and extortion network stretching from detention camps in Libya to Eritrean communities in the Netherlands.

What began with reports of migrants being held captive in Libya evolved into a complex international investigation. Victims were allegedly subjected to torture and abuse while smugglers contacted relatives in Europe, demanding money for their release. The case exposed how migrant smuggling networks can evolve into sophisticated criminal enterprises that profit from fear, desperation and vulnerability.

Reflecting on the investigation, Hoekstra said: “It’s one thing to have a suspect, but another thing to know who to call in a different country. That’s why these meetings are so important.” The remark captured a central lesson from the case: international cooperation is often the difference between identifying a suspect and successfully prosecuting them.

That cooperation proved decisive when Hoekstra needed assistance from authorities in the United Arab Emirates. After attending the first UNODC International Forum of Prosecutors in Vienna in 2024, she established contacts that helped advance the investigation. The collaboration ultimately contributed to a successful prosecution and a 20-year prison sentence for a key perpetrator.

Hoekstra’s experience was highlighted during a broader UNODC discussion on migrant smuggling, which brought together prosecutors and investigators from nearly 60 countries. Participants stressed that migrant smuggling is frequently linked to extortion, violence, trafficking and other forms of organised crime, requiring coordinated responses that extend far beyond national borders.

For Hoekstra, the case reinforced a simple but powerful reality: criminal networks operate internationally, and the fight against them must do the same.