All articles tagged with #human trafficking
Southeast Asia's online scam industry remains resilient despite high-profile arrests and crackdowns, due to its complex, adaptable infrastructure rooted in illegal casinos and trafficking networks that exploit forced and willing labor across multiple countries, making dismantling efforts challenging.
The article reports on a person who was trapped in a suspected brothel, which has now been shut down permanently by city authorities, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat illegal activities and human trafficking.
At least 22 migrants died and 65 were injured when a lorry overturned in Ethiopia's Afar region, highlighting the dangers of perilous migration routes from the Horn of Africa to the Middle East, often driven by human trafficking and false promises.
China is intensifying its crackdown on international scam operations, particularly those based in Myanmar's Laukkaing region, which have exploited thousands of Chinese nationals through cyber scams, human trafficking, and violence. Recent efforts include public confessions of mafia leaders and arrests of thousands, aiming to deter future crimes and restore national security. The crackdown highlights the complex issue of Chinese-run scam centers abroad and China's efforts to combat this damaging industry.
The article exposes the extensive and complex scam industry in Southeast Asia, where trafficked and willing workers operate in large compounds, often under protection of local elites, to carry out online scams targeting victims worldwide, resulting in billions of dollars lost and ongoing efforts to dismantle these operations.
JP Morgan warned the US government in 2019 about over $1 billion in transactions linked to Jeffrey Epstein, some possibly related to human trafficking, involving prominent figures, but no charges have been filed against those named. The bank's alerts, filed during the Trump administration, highlight concerns about Epstein's financial activities and relationships with influential individuals.
Nearly 700 foreigners, mainly from India and China, fled Myanmar and crossed into Thailand following a military raid on KK Park, a notorious cybercrime and human trafficking hub run by Chinese-backed gangs. Thailand detained 677 individuals and is processing their legal status, as the area is known for online scams and trafficking activities involving multiple countries.
South Korea has issued a travel ban to parts of Cambodia following the death of a student believed to be tortured in a scam compound, amid concerns over the widespread operation of illegal scam centers involving human trafficking, forced labor, and cyber fraud, with efforts underway to repatriate missing South Koreans and crack down on criminal networks.
A retired New York financier, Howard Rubin, and his assistant Jennifer Powers have been charged in a federal indictment with sex trafficking women, using force and coercion, and operating a trafficking network that included a BDSM 'dungeon' in Rubin's Manhattan penthouse. Rubin also faces bank fraud charges related to a mortgage for Powers's Texas home. The case highlights the serious legal consequences for sex trafficking and abuse.
A religious leader in Durham, David Taylor, was arrested in connection with a $50 million human trafficking and forced labor scheme involving call centers, psychological abuse, and the purchase of luxury items, with victims subjected to harsh punishments and forced to work long hours without pay. The FBI raid also targeted Michelle Brannon, and both face potential sentences of 20 to 60 years if convicted.
Two religious leaders, David Taylor and Michelle Brannon, were federally charged with running a forced labor and money laundering scheme through their organization, Kingdom of God Global Church, involving coercion, abuse, and the solicitation of tens of millions of dollars in donations, with victims subjected to physical and psychological abuse. They face serious charges including forced labor and money laundering, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
U.S. ICE arrested Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an MS-13 gang member and criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, in Maryland, for charges including human trafficking, domestic abuse, and child solicitation, and is processing him for removal to Uganda, emphasizing efforts to remove dangerous individuals from the U.S.
A multi-year investigation in Omaha led to the arrest of five hotel owners involved in human trafficking, sex and labor exploitation, and related crimes, rescuing multiple victims including minors, with significant law enforcement action and seizures.
A federal operation in Nebraska has led to the arrest of five individuals involved in a human trafficking ring operating across Omaha hotels, rescuing 10 minors and 17 adults, and uncovering related drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and immigration fraud schemes, with ongoing efforts to seize assets and bring perpetrators to justice.
Seven individuals, including family members, were charged in Alabama for operating a child abuse and trafficking ring involving children kept in a bunker, with victims as young as 3 years old, and the operation generating significant revenue through abuse. The children are now in state care receiving support, and authorities are investigating further.