Public to help catch human traffickers in Dubai

At the Dubai Airport.

PHOTO BY ARCHIVE

Public to help catch human traffickers in Dubai

DUBAI – A new Dubai Police initiative is roping in the public to help catch human traffickers passing through Dubai airports.

Airport employees will be trained as part of the two-year campaign, Don’t Close Your Eyes, is in cooperation with the with United Nations and other government departments.

“We will train airport employees on how to identify victims arriving in the UAE and how to investigate human trafficking cases. Passengers will be educated through clip broadcasts at the airport and flyers in nine languages about human trafficking cases and how to report them,” said Brigadier Dr Mohammad Al Murr, Director-General of the General Directorate of Human Rights at Dubai Police.

Al Murr said most cases of human trafficking in the UAE involve sexual exploitation. Victims “enter the UAE with either fake or genuine passports after changing the age of the victims.”

The public is urged to report suspicious individuals or activity through the hotline 8007283.

Last year, 77 suspects of human trafficking were arrested in the UAE, according to a report by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.

Human trafficking is a crime that is punishable by a maximum of life in prison in the UAE. ICA/Expat Media

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