Criminal syndicates engaged in human trafficking still dared to do their illegal trade amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Four women believed to be victims of human trafficking were rescued by the Bureau of Immigration in Cebu.
BI Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina said the women, who were in their late 20s and 40s, were about to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Bangkok, Thailand last Feb. 1 when they were intercepted by immigration agents at the departure area of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Investigation showed that in Bangkok, they were supposed to take a connecting flight to Dubai where they were hired to work as domestic helpers, Medina said.
“It appears that the novel coronavirus outbreak has not deterred these syndicates from continuing with their nefarious activities. We are warning their would-be victims that they will not be able to leave, contrary to the promise of their recruiters,” said Medina.