The Department of Immigration has unearthed what is suspected to be ongoing case of human trafficking syndicate operating in the country.
Immigration Director Nemani Vuniwaqa revealed at a press briefing this morning of the crackdown discovered by Immigration Compliance and Investigation Unit involving 12 Indian Nationals who are suspected to have overstayed their visitor permits.
“These 12 Indian Nationals at this stage are believed to be victims of human trafficking by our investigation officers and have been living in Fiji as illegal immigrants for sometime,” said Vuniwaqa.
Investigators raided three houses at different locations in Laucala Beach and Nasinu and documents retrieved by immigration officers showed the 12 had left the country for Tonga and back to Fiji. However, the suspects denied they had left the country and they had just collected their passports from their travel agents.
It is suspected that a local travel agent is involved in the case bringing Indian nationals into the country on the premise of arranging work for them. The suspects have paid this agent between FJD $6000 to $8000 per person.
Mr Vuniwaqa has alerted the Fiji Police Force and Fiji Islands Revenue Customs Authority to conduct further investigations.
“The Department is looking for possible findings to strengthen Fiji’s Immigration Data Security System and strengthen our Compliance and Investigation Unit to fight modern day immigration frauds, corruption and human trafficking scams that have escalated due to easily accessible advanced technology .”