Colombo: The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) issues an urgent public warning in light of alarming information on a new wave of human trafficking activities targeting Sri Lankan nationals.

According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, organized trafficking syndicates operating cyber scam centers in Southeast Asia without effective government regulation have launched a large-scale recruitment drive. Information suggests these networks are attempting to lure and transport over 50,000 individuals to these scam compounds, with Sri Lankans among the primary targets.

As per the information received, five new scam centers are reportedly being set up in remote areas. Drawing on recent information and established patterns of exploitation, traffickers are using misleading online advertisements and fraudulent job offers to attract job seekers. These operations remain highly active, with several Sri Lankans confirmed to have been trafficked to these locations in the past few weeks.

In addition to th
is, NAHTTF notes that several victims had been attracted and initially recruited to these scam centers while working in Dubai. Further, other Sri Lankans have been directly recruited from Sri Lanka through the use of fake job advertisements on social media platforms.

Victims rescued from these scam centers reveal harrowing experiences of torture, including electric shocks, raising serious concerns for the safety and well-being of those currently trapped.

Therefore, NAHTTF urges the general public to exercise extreme vigilance when responding to online job advertisements in Southeast Asia, especially in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. They recommend following legitimate procedures for safe employment abroad through registration with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). Families and communities are also encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious recruitment activities to the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka.