Malaysia rescues 17 Jordanian children from suspected human trafficking ring

Dubai: Malaysian authorities have rescued 17 Jordanian children, including a three-month-old baby, from a suspected human trafficking operation that allegedly used them for begging in busy tourist and commercial areas of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian and Jordanian authorities said.

Police arrested 15 Jordanian nationals, while authorities are investigating the role of each suspect and how the children were brought into the country and allegedly exploited, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported.

Initial investigations indicated that members of the group entered Malaysia legally on social visit passes before allegedly using the children to solicit money in crowded areas including Bukit Bintang and Chow Kit.

The children, eight boys and nine girls, aged between three months and 14 years, were allegedly taken to busy locations to beg from passers-by. Police said the operation generated between 500 and 1,000 Malaysian ringgit ($110-$220) a day.

Officers seized 32 Jordanian passports, 14 mobile phones, four baby strollers and more than 25,000 ringgit ($6,190) in various currencies during the raids.

The children are being treated as potential victims and Malaysian authorities have begun protection and care procedures while investigations continue under the country’s anti-trafficking and migrant-smuggling legislation.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said it was coordinating with Malaysian authorities over the Jordanians involved, including the children.

Ministry spokesperson Fouad Al Majali said the ministry’s Operations and Consular Affairs Directorate and Jordan’s embassy in Kuala Lumpur were following the cases to ensure the victims’ welfare, provide assistance and coordinate their return to Jordan. He said some of those under investigation were relatives of the alleged victims.

Jordanian authorities will refer the adults involved to the relevant judicial authorities upon their return to the kingdom for legal action, including under Jordan’s anti-human trafficking law, which classifies such offences as transnational crimes, Al Majali said.

Malaysian investigators are continuing efforts to establish the full circumstances of the suspected trafficking operation and identify everyone involved.