The Working Group on Disruption of Criminal Networks Involved in People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons (Disruption Working Group) continues to strengthen its commitment to combatting issues of human trafficking and smuggling. The Group was established in 2014 and has met regularly since. It is currently co-chaired by New Zealand and Vietnam and reports annually to the Bali Process Ad Hoc Group.

The Working Group has completed seven Joint Periods of Action, worked together on several successes and achievements, and has updated terms of reference dated April 2021.

The Group brings together a network of officials involved in aspects of law enforcement, and border control from the sixteen countries that form the Ad Hoc Group membership. The focus is on delivering practical activities to enhance coordination amongst Bali Process Members to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks involved in people smuggling and trafficking in persons in the region. This is undertaken through the Working Group’s Joint Periods of Action, with the purpose of enabling interested Ad Hoc Group member states to carry out coordinated law enforcement operations against criminal networks. This serves as an important platform for stakeholders to assess and enhance regional strategies against human trafficking and people smuggling.

The last, in-person, Joint Period of Action before the Covid pandemic, was in 2019, with eleven countries participating. The activity saw joint investigations aimed at dismantling people smuggling and trafficking in persons networks in the Asia-Pacific region. In the past, Joint Periods of Action have taken place over various time frames and in 2024 the Disruption Working Group co-chairs extended the Joint Periods to 12 months, allowing tangible outcomes from larger and longer-term investigations to be progressed and reported on.

In July 2024, the seventh Joint Period of Action concluded in Ha Noi, Vietnam, with a conference themed, “Review, Reflect and Reset”. The three-day agenda comprised several dynamic sessions aimed at strengthening innovative investigative strategies and fostering collaborative approaches to ensure a safer regional environment. Participants included law enforcement officials, immigration authorities, border security personnel, and subject matter experts from various countries and international organisations, all eager to share insights and best practices. Discussions noted the importance of building effective partnerships across policymakers, law enforcement and the private sector, including social media companies, and reflected upon challenges such as overcoming organisational, jurisdictional, and operational differences. Attendees also reflected on the need for ongoing training and resources to keep up with the evolving digital landscape.

Key themes over the three days were the increasing complexity of migration, the vulnerability of migrants, emerging trends in trafficking, the importance of international cooperation, the need for proactive measures, data management and technology, capacity building and training. Conference activities involved country updates, keynote speeches, workshop activities and forward work plan discussions. Recommendations included strengthening international cooperation, enhancing data management, investing in capacity building, promote public awareness and engagement with the private sector.

The group is a dynamic and committed collective who are motivated to improve outcomes for victims and disrupt networks that seek to exploit the most vulnerable people within the region. As a group, they strive to innovate and reset the strategic approaches to keep ahead of the criminal curve and the sessions aimed to uncover new intelligence, foster better information-sharing protocols, and develop actionable plans for future operations.