Immigration agents foil human trafficking attempt at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines—Immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport claimed on Saturday to have foiled another human trafficking operation following the arrest of a woman who allegedly tried to bring to Malaysia eight undocumented Filipina workers disguised as tourists.

In a press statement, the Bureau of Immigration said the woman and her victims were about to board a Zest Air flight to Kuala Lumpur last May 27 when they were intercepted by members of the bureau’s travel control and enforcement unit at the NAIA’s Terminal 4.

The passengers’ names were not disclosed as the anti-human trafficking act prohibits the public disclosure of the names of human traffickers and their victims, the bureau said.

According to Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr., the bureau had been tipped off about an alleged plan of human trafficking syndicates to use the newly opened Naia 4 terminal at the old domestic airport as a venue for their operations.

The eight women reportedly admitted during investigation that they were hired by their courier, who is a resident of Malaysia, to work as maids and waitresses in Malaysia.

“They did not have the necessary work permits from the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration), thus our immigration officers had to stop them from leaving,” David said in the news release.

He added that the female courier was being investigated by the Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking for possible criminal prosecution.

The suspect is allegedly married to a Malaysian citizen and was the signatory to a letter of invitation presented by the victims to show that they were either friends or relatives of the suspect.

They aroused the suspicion of immigration officers when they failed to present proof of their financial capacity or source of income and employment in the Philippines, David said.