The Police Command in Enugu State says it has uncovered a transnational human trafficking scheme, and rescued a 25-year-old female victim allegedly trafficked to Mali for prostitution.

The command also said that it detained a 69-year-old suspect in connection with the offence.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Tuesday in Enugu.

Ndukwe said that the suspect was detained on Jan. 21, by operatives of the command serving in Igbo-Eze North Police Division, following a complaint lodged by the victim’s parents.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect and his cohorts, now at large, in May 2023 allegedly deceived the victim and her parents with the promise of securing her employment in a textile company in a foreign country.

“The victim was assured that she would earn 100 dollars daily.

“However, the victim later found herself in Mali, where she was allegedly trafficked and forced into prostitution, and the syndicate reportedly made about 500,000 CFA francs from her exploitation,” he said.

Ndukwe said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mamman Giwa, had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), to ensure dismantling of the trafficking network.

The spokesman said that the commissioner also directed the SCID to uncover other criminal activities of the syndicate,, and detain all those connected with the crime.

He urged parents, guardians, and young people to be wary of false promises of lucrative jobs and a better life abroad, so as to avoid falling victim of such scheme of traffickers.