The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) has issued an urgent warning over a new wave of human trafficking activities targeting Sri Lankans, particularly linked to cyber scam centres in Southeast Asia.
Intelligence suggests these networks aim to lure and transport more than 50,000 individuals to scam compounds, with Sri Lankans among the primary targets.
Five new scam centres are reportedly being set up in remote areas, using fraudulent job offers and misleading online advertisements to attract job seekers. The NAHTTF said several Sri Lankans have been trafficked to these locations in recent weeks, some after being recruited while working in Dubai, and others directly from Sri Lanka through fake social media job postings.
According to the NAHTTF, organized trafficking syndicates operating in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos are carrying out large-scale recruitment drives without effective government oversight.
According to the NAHTTF, rescued victims have described harrowing abuse, including torture and electric shocks, raising serious concerns for the safety of those still trapped.
The NAHTTF urged the public to remain extremely vigilant when responding to job offers in Southeast Asia and to use official channels, including registration with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), before travelling abroad for work. Families and communities are also encouraged to report any suspicious recruitment activities to local authorities. (Newswire)