The Bureau of Immigration (BI) intercepted eight Dubai-bound human trafficking victims at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
BI Port Operations Chief Grifton Medina said that the eight passengers – six men and two women – disguised as tourists and were about to board a plane bound to Dubai when they were intercepted by immigration authorities, reported Manila Bulletin.
Medina added that once the victims arrive in Dubai, they would then travel to Cyprus.
“Six of them were allegedly hired as cleaners in a restaurant while one of them was recruited as a cook,” Medina said.
One of the victims initially claimed to travel overseas for vacation before admitting to travelling overseas for work during a questioning at the travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU).
“When she was interviewed, she admitted that she is traveling to Cyprus to work, and voluntarily showed a message exchange between her and her recruiter discussing the amount that each of them would pay the syndicate for facilitating their illegal travel to Cyprus,” Medina said.
The victim also admitted that she met with her recruiter right before heading to the airport for briefing.
The eight victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation of the case.
