Eight people who were heading to Dubai disguised as tourists were intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines.
According to the Bureau of Immigration Operations Chief Grifton Medina, six men and two women were about to board a plane to Dubai en route to Cyprus when they were intercepted by immigration authorities, Manila Bulletin reported.
Medina said the eight people claimed they were travelling overseas on vacation. However, during questioning, one of them admitted that they were, in fact, travelling to Cyprus to work. None of them had proper work documentation.
“Six of them were allegedly hired as cleaners in a restaurant while one of them was recruited as a cook,” Medina said.
Medina said one of the victims voluntarily showed the authorities messages exchanged between her and her recruiter discussing the amount that each of them would pay the syndicate for facilitating their travel to Cyprus.
The eight were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance and further investigations.