The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted an airport staff member found escorting three human trafficking victims at an immigration checkpoint. The incident, which occurred on December 22, involved an attempt to smuggle the victims out to Dubai.
The BI, in a statement, disclosed that the case has now been handed over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for a thorough investigation and to initiate legal proceedings against those involved.
Initial reports suggested that the three individuals, under the guise of being friends on vacation in General Santos, were planning to exit Thailand for Dubai. However, BI Chief Norman Tangsinco revealed that a secondary inspection led to a startling confession. The victims admitted to not knowing each other and lacking return tickets, contradicting their earlier statements.
Further investigation uncovered that the victims were recruited as household service workers in Dubai via Facebook, a modus operandi often used in human trafficking schemes.
In light of this incident, the BI has issued a stern reminder to all airport personnel regarding the strict prohibition of unauthorized access to immigration areas. This case serves as a significant alert to the ongoing vigilance required to combat human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
