Hundreds of labour exploitation victims found near Lisbon

Portuguese maritime police is seen outside a warehouse where hundreds of human trafficking victims, mostly migrants from Southeast Asia, were found near Portugal's capital Lisbon, in Samouco, Portugal, June 21, 2023. REUTERS/Miguel Pereira

SAMOUCO, Portugal (Reuters) - Hundreds of alleged victims of labour exploitation were found on Wednesday in different locations near Portugal's capital Lisbon, including inside a big warehouse where they were kept to work in the illegal harvesting of shellfish.

The Maritime Police, which is leading the investigation, said in a statement that all of the 243 victims identified so far were migrants. CNN Portugal said most were from Southeast Asia.