BERLIN, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- An increase in human trafficking was reported in Germany by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in a report presented on Tuesday.
In total, 671 people were affected in 2017, representing an increase of 25 percent over that in 2016.
Victims in human trafficking cases were often sexually exploited, and some were forced to work or even to beg, according to the Federal Situation Report on Human Trafficking and Exploitation of the BKA.
According to the report, 489 victims were sexually exploited last year, and sexual exploitation remains the most common form of trafficking.
"Threats as well as the use of physical and psychological violence ensure that traffickers retain control of women," says the BKA report.
A clear increase in labor trafficking was recorded. 180 people were victims of this form of trafficking in 2017, while in 2016 the German police registered 48 victims.
Moreover, trafficking for exploitation in the practice of begging was registered for the first time in the Federal Situation Report on Human Trafficking and Exploitation of the BKA.
