January 11, 2024 –In a significant move to combat human trafficking, authorities in Timor-Leste have recently intervened to prevent a group of young individuals from traveling to Cambodia, amid fears they could fall victim to trafficking rings.

The action was taken following concerns raised by the Timor-Leste National Police regarding the lack of essential travel documents, return tickets, or visas among the group. These circumstances raised suspicions, leading to an intervention to protect the potential victims.

According to João Belo dos Reis, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department, the group had allegedly been recruited by a company named Multi Game to work in a Cambodian casino. This revelation prompted immediate action from the authorities, recalling previous incidents where young individuals, lured by online job advertisements, ended up being trafficked.

The Timor-Leste National Police is actively cautioning young people about the risks associated with online job offers that seem too good to be true. This incident has highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by the youth in Timor-Leste, a country grappling with high poverty rates and a population of around 1.3 million.

The preventive action by Timor-Leste’s authorities underlines their commitment to fighting the global issue of human trafficking and protecting their citizens from such threats.

For more details on this developing story, visit Asia Gaming Brief.