The Working Group on Disruption of Criminal Networks Involved in People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons (Disruption Working Group) was established in 2014. It is co-chaired by New Zealand and Vietnam and reports annually to the Bali Process Ad Hoc Group. Since its inception, the Group has met regularly and continues to strengthen its commitment to regional cooperation against people smuggling and human trafficking.
Over the past decade, the Working Group has completed seven Joint Periods of Action, achieved a number of operational successes, and updated its Terms of Reference in April 2021. Officials from the sixteen Ad Hoc Group member countries work together across law enforcement and border control, focusing on practical activities that disrupt and dismantle criminal networks. Joint Periods of Action serve as a platform for coordinated operations, enabling member states to collaborate on complex investigations and share intelligence. In 2024, the Co-Chairs extended these activities to twelve months, allowing for more tangible results from longer-term investigations.
The Working Group is a dynamic and committed collective, motivated to improve outcomes for victims and to dismantle the operations of networks that exploit vulnerable people across the region. Its Co-Chairs also work closely with other Bali Process Working Groups to align planning and ensure efforts are complementary, avoiding duplication across the membership.
Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference guide the Group’s work by focusing on:
- Examining the role, routes, methods, and structures of transnational smuggling and trafficking networks, including through case investigations.
- Strengthening law enforcement and border agency efforts through improved cooperation, information sharing, and coordinated investigations and prosecutions.
- Building operational capacity, trust, and confidence among agencies to ensure intelligence is effectively managed and protected.
- Sharing best practices such as extradition, asset seizure, and mutual legal assistance.
- Complementing the work of other multilateral forums and proposing initiatives for the Regional Support Office’s forward work plan.
- Considering additional issues as relevant to the Group’s mandate.
Operational Activities and Strategic Outlook
The most recent Joint Period of Action concluded in July 2024 with a conference in Ha Noi, Vietnam, under the theme “Review, Reflect and Reset.” The three-day program brought together law enforcement, immigration authorities, border security personnel, and international experts to share insights and strengthen collaborative approaches. Discussions emphasized the importance of partnerships across policymakers, law enforcement, and the private sector, including social media companies. Participants also reflected on challenges such as jurisdictional differences and the need for greater training and resources to keep pace with evolving digital threats.
Key themes included the growing complexity of migration, the vulnerability of migrants, emerging trafficking trends, proactive prevention, and the role of technology and data management. Recommendations focused on strengthening cooperation, enhancing information-sharing, investing in capacity building, raising public awareness, and engaging more deeply with the private sector.
Joint Period of Action (JPOA) in 2026
The Joint Period of Action (JPOA) is the core activity of the Disruption Working Group, enabling coordinated law enforcement operations against people smuggling and trafficking networks. Building on the 2023–2024 JPOA, the Co-Chairs will organize the next round in 2026. Key objectives include prosecuting offenders, strengthening intelligence on criminal syndicates, and raising awareness among law enforcement officials. The most recent JPOA ran for 12 months to support longer-term investigations, and the duration of the 2026 JPOA will be reviewed with members to ensure effectiveness.
Working Group on Disruption of Criminal Networks Involved in People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Events
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