Reading real stories about human trafficking is one of the most powerful ways to educate yourself about this global issue. The more we understand trafficking, the better equipped we are to fight it!
Here are some recent stories from our team’s work around the world, highlighting the challenges they face, the victories they achieve, and their ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable lives.
Sierra Leone: Four Children Intercepted at Border, Older Man Flees
Four children, aged 10 to 12, were intercepted at the border while attempting to cross into Guinea with an older man who bypassed the main security checkpoint.
During individual interviews, the man claimed the children were students traveling to Guinea for a school break. However, a young girl revealed they were actually heading to Guinea to learn tailoring. As questioning continued, inconsistencies in their stories emerged, and the children appeared visibly nervous. One child was even barefoot. They were traveling without any guardians, luggage, or official documents, and the man had paid for all their travel expenses.
Identifying clear red flags of potential trafficking or exploitation, the team took immediate action to protect the children. The man fled the scene, further confirming suspicions about the risk they faced.
Lesotho: Team Intercepts Vulnerable Man Traveling for Suspicious Job Arranged by Friend
A 22-year-old man was intercepted while attempting to travel to the Eastern Cape of South Africa for a job as a cattle herder. The team noticed him speaking with a cash app agent and observed his nervous demeanor.
In a private interview, the man shared that his neighbor and friend had arranged the job, promising a monthly salary of M1,500.00 ($88 USD). He admitted he had not spoken directly with the employer and was relying entirely on his friend for details.
Upon contacting the employer, the team discovered that while he had mentioned needing help with his herd, he was not currently hiring and had not made any arrangements for someone from Lesotho. Eventually, they reached the young man’s friend, who explained that he had recommended the job based on an opening he had heard about at a nearby farm. Surprised to learn the farm owner had been ignoring his friend’s calls and texts, he advised him to cancel the trip.
The young man’s mother was updated on the situation and, understanding the risks, agreed that he should return home. The young man also recognized the dangers of continuing his journey, especially since he had no place to stay, no financial resources, and no job waiting for him.
Several red flags had emerged, including the alleged employer’s contradictory statements and his refusal to provide personal information during questioning. He even pretended not to understand English, despite being a teacher by profession. The young man returned home that same day, and the team reported the incident to immigration officials for further investigation.
Ethiopia: Girl Safe from Suspected Trafficker After Pursuing Work Abroad
Staff recently intercepted a 19-year-old girl named Hana*, who was preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia for domestic work. After losing her parents, Hana had been living with her aunt, who encouraged her to find work abroad to alleviate their financial struggles. A contact connected Hana’s aunt with a woman—later identified as a suspected trafficker—though the family was unaware of the potential risks.
Hana traveled to Addis Ababa to process her passport but lost all her documents at a busy bus station near the immigration office, leaving her stranded and highly vulnerable. One of our monitors noticed her crying outside the immigration office and quickly intervened. Recognizing the red flags, he provided her with a meal, shared the gospel with her, and ensured she was safely transported back home, protecting her from the dangers of human trafficking.
Mozambique: Team’s Swift Action Uncovers Human Trafficking Operation, Leading to Arrest
In collaboration with local law enforcement, the team acted on an urgent tip-off about a suspected human trafficking operation orchestrated by a 43-year-old Chinese national in Maputo. The trafficker targeted young Mozambicans with false promises of high-paying jobs in Thailand, offering salaries between $780 and $940 USD—a ploy to lure victims into a dangerous scheme.
The investigation revealed that the trafficker had recruited eight individuals, seven men and one woman, aged 28 to 32, by covering all travel expenses, including passports, visas, travel bags, and flight tickets. The victims were set to stay at a supposed tourist resort in Maputo until their departure, with all costs financed by the trafficker to gain their trust.
Authorities uncovered that the suspect used two luxury vehicles to transport and monitor the victims. Evidence, including luggage, cell phones, and detailed coordination records, further implicated him in the trafficking network.
The team and law enforcement successfully rescued six of the eight victims and arrested the suspect, who is now in a maximum-security prison awaiting trial. This swift intervention disrupted a well-organized trafficking scheme and highlighted the critical role of rapid responses in preventing exploitation.
South Africa: Facebook Job Scam Exposed: Team Saves Young Father from Potential Trafficking
A recently graduated young father, desperate to support his 6-month-old child, came across a Facebook job posting for cashier and gas attendant positions at Shell Garage locations in Gauteng. Eager to secure work, he expressed interest.
Fortunately, the team identified the post as a scam and intervened. They warned him that reputable companies like Shell usually advertise jobs through formal channels such as email or their official website, not Facebook. After contacting Shell Garage, they confirmed the job post was fake. Several red flags stood out: The salary offered was unusually high for the positions, a common tactic used by traffickers to lure victims; and the interview address didn’t match any Shell location. Instead, it led to an unsafe area in Kempton Park, known for drug activity.
Thanks to the team’s swift action, the young man avoided a potentially dangerous situation, which could have led to coercion into drug trafficking or other criminal activities.
These stories remind us that human trafficking is not just a distant problem—it’s happening every day, affecting individuals who deserve safety, dignity, and freedom. While the challenges can seem overwhelming, each interception is a step toward a world where trafficking no longer exists.
Our monitors are committed to being on the front lines, protecting vulnerable lives and holding traffickers accountable. But we can’t do it alone—we depend on support from others who share this vision. Will you join us in this fight?
Let’s stand united against human trafficking—because every life is beautiful and worth fighting for.
*All data and statistics current at the date and time of publishing. Names changed and some specific locations excluded for privacy and security purposes. Cover photo courtesy of Carys Watt.
Submit a Comment