At least eight people have been arrested in the UK as part of investigations into online networks that encourage men to drug and sexually assault women, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said.
Get today's headlines by email 
Since October 2025, the agency has identified 270 individuals connected to a forum and associated websites where footage of coordinated sexual abuse was shared. Investigators said the offending mirrors the abuse suffered by French survivor Gisèle Pelicot, whose case drew international attention after she was repeatedly drugged by her husband and raped by dozens of men.
Investigations uncover organised abuse forums
The NCA said the abuse is typically carried out by a long-term partner and can continue undetected for many years, with some cases lasting decades.
Deputy director Nigel Leary said drug-facilitated sexual assault was "no longer isolated behaviour" but had become "increasingly organised".
Victims identified and international inquiries launched
The agency said 14 investigations are under way, with eight victims identified and provided with support.
Evidence gathered from the online forums has been shared with law enforcement agencies in several countries as part of efforts to identify offenders and victims beyond the UK.
The NCA said it has established a coordinated response involving prosecutors and safeguarding organisations to help identify victims and provide support while pursuing criminal investigations.
Last week, representatives from law enforcement agencies in Brazil, Canada, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States met in London to exchange intelligence on suspected offenders, victims and online communities linked to the abuse.
The agency said the meeting resulted in the identification of more than 150 offenders and victims, as well as four previously unknown online communities.
Authorities urge victims to seek help
Siobhan Blake, the Crown Prosecution Service's national lead for rape and serious sexual offences, described the crimes as among the most disturbing she had encountered.
She said victims were subjected to severe sexual abuse in their own homes, calling it an extreme betrayal of trust. Blake added that the offending flourished in secrecy, both online and behind closed doors, and said the criminal justice system was committed to exposing those responsible and securing justice for victims and survivors.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap, director of the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, said victims may not immediately realise they have been assaulted.
She urged anyone who feels something is wrong to seek help, even if they have no clear memory or proof, adding that police and support services would listen, take reports seriously and provide appropriate care.
Pelicot case highlighted scale of abuse
Earlier this year, Gisèle Pelicot told the BBC she had been "crushed by horror" after learning that her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, had repeatedly drugged her and invited dozens of men to rape her while she was unconscious.
The 73-year-old waived her right to anonymity to speak publicly about her experience and campaign for victims. Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 3 July 2026