Thursday: 15 July 2010:
ADP breaks human trafficking ring forcing 9 Filipinos into prostitution.
ADP has broken a 17 member human trafficking gang. All of them are Filipino nationals – and all but one a woman. They forced 9 compatriot girls into prostitution.
The three women who run the business face the charges of locking-up the victims at three different places in Abu Dhabi and forcing them into prostitution. They were threatened after being brought to the country on tourist visas with false promises of jobs with attractive salaries.
The crime was detected on the first of July and is one of the biggest human trafficking crimes in the country.
Colonel Ahmed Al Hamadi, Director of ADP CID said ‘A team was been formed after one of the girls escaped and reported the case to the police. After checking the information and obtaining necessary warrants the security men stormed the three flats where the girls were detained and forced into prostitution. Large amounts of money have been found and seized by the security men: $18,000, Dh 12,128 and Dh54,000 were found in one of the suspects bank account”.
Colonel (Dr.) Rashid Mohammad Bu Rasheed, Head of Organized Crime Section at the ADP CID said “The gang consists of 17 persons, among them one Filipino man who works as a steward and other 16 compatriot women, their jobs vary between nannies and domestic helpers. Some of them have come on tourist visas. The gang runs the racket from three apartments in Abu Dhabi. The gang has accomplices abroad who persuade the girls that they we would get attractive jobs in the UAE”.
The masterminds of the business are identified as “M. M. F., 33”, “G. M. M., 42” and “E. G. Y., 25”. The ages of the victims range between 23 and 33 years. The three masterminds and other gang members are charged with trading in humans, running a prostitution racket, adultery and working for people other than their sponsors. Some of them are charged with selling their bodies for money, and that they are aware of the crime but they have not reported it to the authorities concerned. The hunt is going on for those who are suspected of issuing and selling visas to the gang. “The 9 victims are now at a government shelter for women and children”, added Bu Rasheed.
“The victims upon their arrival into the country they are taken by some criminals to the places where they will practice their trade. They take their passports and they beat, threaten and lock them up if necessary. Sometimes they sleep with men at their living places or are taken to hotels for customers under strict guard. They collect the money from them after they finish their humiliating tasks”, added Bu Rasheed.
“The three masterminds are used to make deals with some people abroad to lure the girls under the promise of attractive salaries. As soon as they arrive into the country they are told with the truth and that they have to work to repay the amounts spent on their travel, visa etc. The suspects have admitted all their crimes during investigations”, added Bu Rasheed.
The Director of ADP CID has lauded the efforts of the UAE government in dealing seriously with this issues and he has appreciated ADP positive efforts in facing and confronting such criminal practices which endangers the community security and the national economy. He urges community members to report any inductions or possibilities of human trafficking crime.