Amid heightened efforts to combat human trafficking, local and international authorities say there is still need for “collaborative” efforts among concerned agencies to halt this widespread exploitation.
Echoing the most recent “Orange Notice” issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) once again raised the “urgent need” for cooperation to combat this “grave” issue.
“There is a need for collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations, intelligence units, and the private sector,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.
The Interpol Orange Notice issued Wednesday (June 7) warned its member states that the crime trend of human trafficking, especially in Southeast Asia, “is likely much more entrenched than previously thought.”
Victims are usually enticed through job advertisements online, only to find themselves trapped in online scam centers where they are forced to engage in criminal activities.
The Interpol notice describes the scheme as double-edged in nature, as it victimizes both the trafficked individuals and a second set of victims targeted by online fraud.
The trafficked victims endure forced labor, extortion, physical and sexual exploitation, and even organ harvesting.
Simultaneously, the online scam centers perpetrate various fraudulent activities, such as investment scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency-related fraud.
“What began as a regional crime threat has become a global human trafficking crisis,” Jürgen Stock, Interpol Secretary General, said in the notice. “Just about anyone in the world could fall victim to either the human trafficking or the online scams carried out through these criminal hubs. Much stronger international police cooperation is needed to stop this crime trend from spreading further.”
Real-life examples
Since last year, BI has raised its alarm over the said scheme as young urban professionals continue to be recruited.
A victim repatriated last June 3 from Bangkok recounted his experience with the recruiters.
The male victim, 26 years old, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on board a Philippine airlines flight.
The BI reported that he left late in May in the guise of being a tourist. Upon repatriation, he admitted that he was recruited to work in Thailand through an ad he saw on Facebook and was contacted on Telegram by a Chinese national. He stated that he was offered a salary of P40,000 a month, and was assisted by an airport personnel during his departure.
After arriving in Thailand, he was transferred to Laos without his consent, which made him seek assistance from the Philippine Embassy.
“Professionals coming from good backgrounds being victimized by this huge syndicate. We have sounded the alarm on this since last year, and Interpol has already acknowledged that this is a major concern. Aspiring overseas workers should be wary of job offers received online, and only go through legal means to work abroad,” Tansingco added.
(OpinYon News Team)