Freetown, November 13, 2023
In a decisive move against human trafficking, Sierra Leone’s immigration officers stationed at Jendema intercepted nineteen young women, aged 21 to 26, at the border with Liberia on Saturday, November 11, 2023. All individuals were in possession of the country’s passport and intended to travel to various destinations in West and North Africa, as well as the Middle East.
Responding to the situation, the National Task Force on Human Trafficking promptly handed over the nineteen women and the suspected driver to the Sierra Leone Police Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) on the same day. This proactive measure aligns with the 2022 National Referral Mechanisms on Victim Protection, demonstrating the government’s commitment to combating human trafficking.
The Sierra Leone Ministry of Social Welfare, in collaboration with the ATIP Task Force and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), had previously conducted training sessions in September 2023.
These sessions, covering border crossing points, including Jendema, aimed to implement standard operating procedures outlined in Sierra Leone’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking.
This latest incident underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, emphasizing the need for vigilance and swift action to protect potential victims and dismantle trafficking networks.
The investigation by TOCU will play a crucial role in determining the extent of this potential human trafficking and smuggling scheme.
