Saturday July 21, 2012

Filipino women saved from human trafficking ring

PUTRAJAYA: Thirty-one Filipinos who were suspected of being victims of a human trafficking syndicate were rescued by the Immigration Department during an operation on Thursday.

The operation was carried out at a condominium in Taman Tun Dr Ismail after Immigration officers spent about three months monitoring the case following a tip-off.

The women were kept in two residential units and monitored by human trafficking syndicate members via CCTV, Immigration Department director (enforcement) Mohd Zamberi Abdul Aziz said.

Every day, the women would be taken out to work at nightclubs around the Klang Valley and after that, they would be sent back to the residence.

Mohd Zamberi said two other Filipino women were detained during the raid on suspicion that they were in cahoots with the syndicate.

The department has since secured interim protection orders for all 31 victims.

He said that none of them had their passports, though it is believed that they entered the country either on social visit passes as tourists or as students.

The raid was conducted by a team of 44 Immigration officers, lead by deputy assistant director II Noraizan Bidin.

Mohd Zamberi urged the public to inform the department if they knew of any illegal activities being carried out. The public can contact the department at 1-800-22-6969 or at 03-88801555/03-88801556.

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