VIENTIANE: Police recorded 46 new human trafficking cases in 2024, in which 95 suspects were arrested and 85 people were victimised.
The figures were reported at a meeting of the National Anti-trafficking Committee to summarise anti-trafficking operations in 2024 and draw up plans for 2025.
The meeting took place on Friday (Jan 24), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security, General Vilay Lakhamfong.
Deputy Minister of Public Security, Lieutenant General Khamking Phouilamanivong, said human trafficking occurs in many countries.
In Laos, brokers and other ill-intentioned groups have tricked Lao girls into risky and illicit situations through cyber-scam operations conducted from call centres.
In some cases, girls under the age of 18 were encouraged to marry foreigners illegally.
Anti-trafficking operations are conducted under a national plan implemented from central to local areas.
To combat human trafficking, legislation has been strengthened and manuals published, and training and seminars have been organised to raise awareness of the problem and make sure people are on their guard against tricksters and scammers.
In 2023, 27 people were arrested on charges of human trafficking, of whom 13 were foreign nationals, while 22 women were victimised, of whom 16 were under the age of 18.
In the 46 cases recorded in 2024, the 95 people who were arrested included 43 foreign nationals, while 85 people suffered at the hands of fraudsters, including 40 girls under the age of 18.
Assistance was provided to vulnerable groups and victims, such as temporary accommodation, provision of food, clothing and other essentials, physical therapy, and psychological rehabilitation.
In 2024, 127 people attended counselling sessions at protection centres set up to assist women and children, while 104 females returned to their families after being lured into unsafe and illegal work.
In addition, 962 people at potential risk of human trafficking received face-to-face counselling and hotline counselling on 54 occasions.
The National Anti-trafficking Committee is working with Vietnam, China, Thailand and Cambodia to try to curb illicit cross-border activities.
Supported by international organisations and non-governmental organisations (INGOs), Memorandums of Understanding aimed at combatting human trafficking have been signed between these countries.
This year, all sectors responsible for anti-trafficking will focus on groups at particular risk of victimisation and strictly enforce the law to prevent more crimes of this nature.
A greater effort will be made under the national programme to reduce the vulnerability of at-risk groups and address the causes of human trafficking to prevent more people falling prey to such crimes.
More in-depth investigation and prosecution will be carried out to bring the perpetrators to justice, while victims will receive fair compensation for their suffering. - Vientiane Times/ANN
