Papua New Guinea police dismantle alleged transnational people-smuggling network
PORT MORESBY: Four Chinese nationals are suspected of forcing 39 people to work in an online scam operation from a living room in the capital of Papua New Guinea, police said on Wednesday.
The victims, all Indonesians, were coerced into the work at a three-bedroom property in downtown Port Moresby where they were being held, a police source told AFP.
READ MORE: Surge in online scams drain Malaysia’s economy and trust
READ MORE: 30 Malaysians held in Pontianak over online scam activities
“The victims are still being interviewed,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to give details about the case.
“At the time of the bust, many were difficult to communicate with because of language barriers, so investigators will have to work with Indonesian officials to assist with the interviews.”
Police rescued the 39 people being held against their will in a “complex people-smuggling enterprise”, Police Commissioner David Manning said on Tuesday.
“There will be no leniency for those who traffic and exploit people,” Manning said.
“It is deeply disturbing that such alleged crimes could occur in our country.”
Four Chinese nationals were arrested in the operation and are likely to face significant charges, he said.
Manning said a people-smuggling network in Papua New Guinea and abroad had been dismantled in a Police Transnational Crime Directorate intelligence operation.
More arrests were expected.
“Those detained may be connected to a wider transnational human trafficking syndicate operating between Southeast Asia and the Pacific,” said Deputy Commissioner Donald Yamasombi, who led the police operation.
Papua New Guinea police will work closely with international partners “to identify and dismantle any offshore components of this criminal network”, he said.
Police said they were working with the Indonesian embassy in Papua New Guinea to care for the rescued victims.
