Maputo, 1 Aug (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) on Thursday dismantled a human trafficking ring in Maputo.
During the operation, the police released six young women of Vietnamese descent, aged between 25 and 35, who were being kept for sexual exploitation. In connection with the case, three Vietnamese nationals were arrested and charged with human trafficking crimes.
According to the SERNIC spokesperson in Maputo, João Adriano, the victims had been held captive for about two years. They had allegedly been kept under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs.
“These are citizens who managed to entice six of their fellow countrywomen to come to Mozambique, ostensibly to be employed or find work. However, upon arrival in Mozambique, their passports and other identification documents were taken away and they were subjected to sexual exploitation in this residence where we are located”, he said.
The spokesperson explained that the women entered the country with expired tourist visas. The operation was carried out after a complaint filed by one of the victims, “which allowed SERNIC to act quickly.”
“At the crime scene, SERNIC seized passports, drugs, condoms, and other materials. Investigations also reveal that the women were forced to use drugs as a method of control and submission”, he said. However, the owner of the house where the victims were found has not yet been identified.
(AIM)
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