A recent human trafficking syndicate neutralized at the coast region has opened a can of worms with the country been mapped as a source, destination, and transit for human trafficking.
Fresh details emerging indicate that in most of these cases, the victims are vulnerable children and young adults. They are usually subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking.
A police raid in Rangeela Bar and Restaurant in Nyali, Mombasa County has seen twelve Nepalese women arrested on early Saturday in what police said was an operation against human trafficking.
Police said the operation targeted an international sex trafficking ring, a kind of human trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation.
In the raid at about 4 am, the club owner was also arrested. Asif Amirali Alibhai JeJetha had a Canadian passport but police said that was not his nationality.
After questioning the 12 girls, police discovered they sneaked into the country through Lunga-Lunga border but it is yet to be established how they managed to reach Kenya from Nepal.
Mr Chebii said they were investigating how Mr JeJetha acquired the passport.
“He has been living in Kenya for some time but we are yet to establish how he got the passport and if it is genuine. We are working with different security organs in trying to unravel that since he is not a Canadian.”
They are made to pass through borders by the organised gangs. The victims may then be sold into prostitution and slavery in the receiving country.
Their organs may be illegally harvested too. Others, like albinos, have been killed and their body organs used in rituals.
Victims of human trafficking at times suffer double jeopardy.
After being arrested in the host country or while on transit, they are charged with illegal stay or entry and then deported after appearing in court.
Police have been accused of failing to seal off Kenya’s coastline to stop the entry of illegal immigrants, a factor that has contributed to an increase in such cases.