Brussels, 03/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Office of Police (Europol) announced on Wednesday that it has helped to smash a criminal network involved in the trafficking of human beings, by arresting around 80 people. "Operation Girasole" or "Sunflower" was launched by the Italian authorities and then progressively involved other Member States in Europol co-operation. Europol explained that, "individuals and travel companies based in the Ukraine were the major operators in promoting and facilitating the smuggling of women by obtaining Schengen visas fraudulently…in co-operation with partner travel agencies and hotels, mainly based in Austria, Italy Germany, France and Spain". Europol has already participated in co-ordinated operations against illegal immigration operations in airports (Rio I and II) as well as in ports.