MONROVIA: The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Labor, has turned over sixteen (16) Sierra Leonean nationals who were trafficked to Liberia to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for repatriation.
A release issued over the weekend from the Labor Ministry said, the sixteen (16) Sierra Leoneans are expected to return to their country and reunite with families.
The sixteen persons, 14 males and 2 females, were reportedly deceived and brought to Liberia in the name of processing their documents to travel to Malaysia, using Liberia as a transit point.
They were trafficked and extorted by fellow Sierra Leoneans who are agents of Q-net, an alleged criminal network that is involved in the trafficking and illegal movement of people in the sub-region.
The alleged criminal Network took the amount of US$1,200.00 from each of the 16 trafficked victims.
The victims were promised to travel to Malaysia and other Asian countries for employment, education and better living condition but were allegedly exploited by agents of Q-net operating in Liberia.
They have been in Liberia since March and lured into the country by their traffickers.
Speaking at a turning over ceremony in Monrovia, the Chairman of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce of Liberia, Labor Minister, Cllr. Charles Gibson, said the victims were rescued by the Liberia National Police (LNP) and turned-over to the taskforce earlier this year.
He said about seven (7) alleged perpetrators who are also agents of Q-net where arrested, tried and sentenced in line with Trafficking In-Persons Law of Liberia.
Minister Gibson confirmed that, the Government of Liberia made expenses of over US$50,000.00 for the traffickers’ prosecution, and to maintain the sixteen (16) victims at the safe home of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce of Liberia.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Gibson disclosed that each of the victims will receive a reintegration package of US$1,500.00 to reintegrate them into society through various business means as they return home. The money was provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Receiving the Trafficked Sierra Leoneans, the International Organization for Migration Representative, Mr. Workapoe Workanuan, informed media practitioners that the victims will be in safe keeping with the IOM while staying in a five-star hotel in Liberia until they’re taken back to their home country (Sierra Leone) on Thursday.
Also speaking at the turning over ceremony in Monrovia, the Deputy Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Liberia, Ambassador Jonathan Saffia, thanked the Government of Liberia for rescuing and taking good care of the Sierra Leoneans who were victimized by the traffickers.
“The Liberian Government, through the Ministry of Labor, has done exceptionally well by taking good and brotherly care of these victims and on behalf of the people and Government of Sierra Leone, we say thanks to the Liberian Government for such a commitment,” Ambassador Saffia.
Ambassador Saffia further recounted the cooperative working relationship between the two countries.
Speaking on behalf of the trafficking victims, Mr. Santigie M. Sesay acknowledged and appreciated the Liberian Government for the efforts in making sure that they are safe and taken back to their country.
