In a recent and alarming incident, over 40 people from Malaysia have been rescued by Peruvian police after falling victim to job scams by a human trafficking syndicate, getting captured and being forced to work for them.
The Malaysians involved in this rescue operation were coerced into participating in the infamous “Macau scam.” They were tasked with making calls to companies in Malaysia and Taiwan, posing as government officials and demanding money from potential victims, according to The Guardian.
The Rescue Operation in Peru
On October 7th, Peruvian police took action by raiding a house in La Molina, the capital city of Lima, where the 43 Malaysians were held.
Thanks to the prompt intervention of the Malaysian embassy, the victims were found to be healthy and well. In addition to the arrests of six Taiwanese and two Peruvians, the victims have also undergone an investigation process and will soon be repatriated back to Malaysia.
Luring Victims with False Promises
The victims in this case were initially enticed through social networks with job offers in casinos in the Peruvian capital. Many human trafficking schemes employ such tactics, making it essential to raise awareness of the dangers of accepting offers from unknown sources.
They were lured with promises of employment in casinos in Peru. However, they soon found themselves in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and then in Peru. Their passports were confiscated, and they were effectively cut off from communicating with their families.
In this case, the victims were under the control of a Taiwanese crime group known as Red Dragon. These groups are known for their ruthless tactics, including confiscating passports and isolating victims from their families.
The rescue operation was initiated after two courageous women managed to escape and alert the authorities. Their bravery played a pivotal role in saving the others from continued exploitation.
During the police operation, authorities seized over £8,200 (or S$13,723) , dozens of mobile phones, and bank cards from the house where the victims were held. These pieces of evidence will be crucial in prosecuting those responsible for this heinous crime.
Malaysia police vow to take down syndicate
To bring those responsible to justice, the Malaysia Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, has assigned Bukit Aman CID’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) division (D3) conduct interviews with the victims once they return to Malaysia, according to The Star.
He said that the police will be recording the victim’s statements and expect them to cooperate fully as they aim to track down the syndicate, identify and detain them.
Razarudin Husain emphasized the uniqueness of this case, stating, “We believe this is the first incident involving Malaysians being duped to work for scam syndicates in South America. Usually, such cases occur in South-East Asian countries such as Laos and Myanmar.”
Investigations have shown that the 43 Malaysians left the country legally. However, this raises questions about the recruitment and vetting process for overseas job opportunities. The authorities will collaborate with the Immigration Department and Wisma Putra to delve deeper into this aspect of the case.
Images source: AFP via Peru Ministry of Interior