Police rescue four human trafficking victims in Labuan

LABUAN: Police have rescued four Filipino women believed to be victims of human trafficking.

Labuan police chief Supt Mohd Hamizi Halim said the victims, aged between 31 and 33, were allegedly forced to work in nightspots on this duty-free island.

He said three women were rescued on this island on April 26, while another managed to flee to Penampang, where she was subsequently rescued on April 27 by the D7 Branch of Sabah's criminal investigation department.

"The operations to rescue the women was carried out under Op Pintas. We also detained two men, including a Filipino, aged 22 and 36, on April 26 at an entertainment outlet and a hotel here, respectively," he said in a statement here today.

Mohd Hamizi said both of them were remanded from April 28 to May 2 and 4, respectively, to facilitate investigations under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Migrant Smuggling Act (ATIPSOM).

"The rescue of these women underscores our commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting the rights of individuals, regardless of nationality," he said.

--BERNAMA

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