"As far as we see from practical analysis, the tendencies among criminals are changing and human trafficking of children and adults is taking a new shape," Meška said at a discussion on efforts against human trafficking held at the parliament on Wednesday.
In his words, Lithuanian children are taken to Scandinavian countries and the United Kingdom to shoplift from supermarkets. Groups of children are ordered to steal a few thousand euros worth of commodities and give them to the criminals. The prosecutor said some of the children are aware they're going to have to steal.
"We identify them as victims of human trafficking as they are promised fortunes. They are cheated and have to reimburse for the ticket," the prosecutor noted.
Meška also stressed that another group of victims of human smuggling include adult males who are promised good jobs but are forced to work as slaves or without being paid.
Nevertheless, the bulk of the investigations of human trafficking have to do with prostituting of young women.
A rescue case of an underage prostituted Lithuanian female was told by Phil Rashidi in charge of efforts against human trafficking at London police.
Rashidi said that the 16-year-old was taken to the United Kingdom for a weekend by a new acquaintance. The girl was sold to an Albanian gang for 3,000 British pounds but was later found by the police, rescued, and returned to Lithuania.
According to data provided by Lithuanian law-enforcement institutions, 44 investigations into human trafficking were carried out in Lithuania in 2012, most of them to do with young females sold into sex slavery.
Last year, 17 individuals were charged with human trafficking and seven were sent to prison. Charges of buying or selling children were brought against nine individuals, no sentences were passed.
In Meška's words, eight investigations into human trafficking were opened in Lithuania this year, including one involving a minor.
