Estonia sees rise in detected human trafficking cases
Estonia recorded 22 human trafficking cases in 2025, up by seven from the previous year. Authorities say criminals increasingly recruit victims via social media, and legislation has been expanded to cover new forms of exploitation.
Estonian police registered 22 crimes related to human trafficking in 2025, seven more than in 2024. Among these, 12 cases were classified as human trafficking (compared to three in 2024), eight as procuring (four in 2024), and two involved trafficking of minors (eight in 2024).
Anu Leps, advisor at the Criminal Law Cooperation and Legislation Department of the Ministry of Justice and Digital Development, said official statistics do not reflect the true scale of the problem. She noted that human trafficking is a latent crime, and victims may not realize they are being exploited or may fear seeking help because they depend on the perpetrator for work, housing, income, or legal residence.
The legal framework has been updated following the implementation of a new European Union directive. The definition of human trafficking now also covers exploitation of surrogate motherhood and illegal adoption. Amendments were made to the Penal Code and the Victim Support Act to improve access to assistance, strengthen cooperation between state agencies, and enhance data collection.
According to Leps, offenders increasingly recruit and control victims through social networks and encrypted messaging apps. A new aggravating circumstance is the distribution of intimate photos, videos, or other sexually explicit materials using information and communication technologies.
The consultation line for human trafficking issues received 727 requests for help last year. About 90% of callers were third-country nationals, with labor fraud and exploitation being the most common issues. Calls came from 17 countries, and a significant share of callers were Ukrainian citizens.
Exploitation often hides behind seemingly ordinary employment. People are promised good salaries, free housing, and regulated working hours, but after arrival they face 12–14 hour shifts, unexplained deductions, and complete control by the employer. If workers are threatened with dismissal, deportation, or forbidden from seeking help, it may already indicate exploitation and trafficking.
The ministry stresses that preventing labor exploitation should be a priority. Employers are advised to follow fair recruitment practices for foreign workers, while the state should ensure accessible information and assistance for those who do not speak Estonian. The campaign "You Have the Right!" reminds all workers in Estonia of their right to timely wages, safe working conditions, rest, possession of their own documents, and support regardless of citizenship or language. Help is available via the Social Insurance Department's phone line at 660 7320.
