Six human trafficking cases registered this year
22 suspects arrested while nine victims were rescued
Dubai: Six human trafficking cases involving 22 suspects and nine victims were registered this year, Dubai Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said.
According to Colonel Abdul Rahim Mohammad Bin Shafe'ei, director of the Organised Crime Section, most of the victims had been recruited from their countries and conned into believing they were coming to take up legitimate jobs in the UAE, only to find themselves forced into prostitution upon arrival.
The suspects included 12 Asians, three Arabs and five Africans, while the nine women included two Europeans, three Uzbeks and four Asians.
"The victims were promised good working opportunities and salaries and brought to the UAE, while a few [of the victims] were absconding domestic workers looking for better jobs," Colonel Shafe'ei said.
The victims were threatened and often beaten to force them to entertain male customers for money, he added.
Last year, the department registered 20 cases involving 63 suspects and 35 victims. Of the suspects, 12 were Arabs, 40 Asians and 11 Europeans while the victims included nine Arabs, 21 Asians and five Europeans.
Dubai Police has made the combating of human trafficking one of its top priorities, setting up a special section at the CID's Organised Crime Section.
Recent cases include that of a gang arrested in April. The gang would promise to arrange better-paying jobs for domestic workers and convince them to abscond.
However, once they did so, the maids would find themselves forced into prostitution. The gang was run by an absconding housemaid and three men.
Colonel Shafe'ei said when domestic workers run away from their sponsors, it is easy for them to be exploited by criminals.
He said the maids are usually locked in houses or apartments for long periods of time and often threatened or physically abused.
Earlier on, a man was arrested after luring three Latin American women into relationships online and forcing them into prostitution when they arrived in the country to visit him.
