The modi operandi of Nigerian sex trafficking networks convicted in Belgium:
an exploratory study
Belgium is one of the main destination countries in Europe for Nigerian victims of sex trafficking. Based
on a literature review, analyses of judicial files and an expert interview, this article describes the modi
operandi of Nigerian sex trafficking networks. Different aspects are analysed: i) the vulnerabilities of the
victims that are exploited, ii) the travel routes used by the traffickers, iii) the structure of and the actors
in the network, iv) the coercive measures used by the traffickers, and v) the managing of black money. In
this way, specific characteristics of Nigerians sex trafficking networks are distinguished, among which
the presence of a female leader, the family-based structure of the networks and the use of voodoo related
coercive techniques.