Home 
MANILA, Philippines?A human trafficking ring in Timor-Leste?s capital Dili has been crushed after last week?s arrest of 10 in a bar there, it was learned Tuesday.
The raid and the succeeding arrests were made by the combined forces of the United Nations Police (Unpol) serving in Timor-Leste and the country?s police force, the UN office in Manila said in a statement.
The 10 suspects, who include one woman, were arrested on July 2 at a bar in the Marconi neighborhood and are now in Becora Prison awaiting pre-trial hearing.
The raiding and arresting officers found 21 women and one 17-year-old girl working in the bar.
The women are being cared for by the International Organization for Migration and non-governmental organizations while they are being processed as victims of human trafficking.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects deceived the women into traveling to Timor-Leste on the promise they would have legitimate jobs as waitresses or masseuses, but then forced them to provide sexual services after they entered the country.
Unpol Commissioner Luis Carrilho stressed in a statement issued by the UN Mission in Timor-Leste (Unmit) that the UN regarded human trafficking as a form of serious exploitation and abuse.
?Police will not hesitate to take action against human traffickers,? Carrilho said, adding that last week?s operation highlighted the good relationship between Unpol and the Timor-Leste police.
