PANJIM: An international sex trafficking ring operating between Uganda and India was busted by the Mandrem Police in a joint operation with the NGO Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ).
The raiding team rescued two women and arrested the alleged kingpin Jojo Nakintu, a Ugandan national who pushed the economically backward single mothers into the flesh trade by confiscating their passports and confining them into small cubicles.
The incident, however, came to light not because of the intelligence of the Goa Police but as one of the victims, who was brought to Goa on promise to provide her a job, was caged in Mandrem, managed to contact the embassy who in turn sought the help of Goa police and ARZ to rescue the victims.
Sources revealed that the traffickers would solicit clients who were basically domestic tourists online through escort websites and charge Rs 2000 each. They would also look out for clients by patrolling the beaches, restaurants and by the roadside, said police.
“Victims were forced to entertain six to eight clients a day. Most of the clients were often abusive and drunk domestic tourists. Not a penny of what was earned was given to the victims,” said a source on condition of anonymity.
“This also brings the role of the cyber cell of the Goa Police of how this illicit trade flourishing on social networking sites could have evaded their attention,” said a source in the police.
As per SP North Shri Akshat Kaushal, economically weak and young single mothers from Uganda were falsely promised jobs of employment at restaurants and cafe in Goa and after being brought to India, the traffickers threaten the young women and thereafter seize the passports and visas, forcing them into prostitution under threat of violence.
As per SDPO Pernem Jivba Dalvi, one of the victims contacted the embassy and through the assistance and support of the embassy Goa police was able to reach out to the location of the victims. Mandrem police and ARZ went in search and managed to rescue two victims from Uganda and arrest one trafficker.
The accused Jojo Nakintu, 31, is arrested and a FIR under Sections 370 IPC and section 4,5,7 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act has been registered.
The accused Jojo is here for many years and is involved in travel related business while one of the victim is in the State since March while another is here for the last ten days.
When O Heraldo questioned DySP Dalv if the victims had a valid visa, the officer stated that the visa of one of the victims had expired a month back.
Another senior police officer on condition of anonymity stated that while cops have been hounding and arresting migrants during the tenant verification drive, the men in uniform have been turning a Nelson’s eye to foreigners residing in Goa without valid visas and indulging in illegalities, while the fundamental rights of the citizens of India are curtailed when it comes to them moving from one State to another.
When questioned as to how the illicit trade was being carried out when the beat constables moving in the area to keep an eye on crime, the DySP stated that they had never found anything unusual despite the fact that an overstaying woman without a valid visa was being sexually exploited for pecuniary benefits.
Dalvi, however stated that they would seal the premises where the illicit trade was being carried out.
The rescued women have been lodged in the Protective Home at Merces.
Further investigation is in progress with PI Mandrem PS Sheriff Jaques under the supervision of SDPO Jivba Dalvi and SP North Akshat Kaushal IPS.
It may be recalled in December last year the Enforcement Directorate had earlier with the help of Anjuna Police had rescued Kenyan girls who were victims of flesh trade. The ED in its chargesheet had stated that Rs 21 crores remitted to Kenya by the trafficker which were earned a the cost of the victims.
The police had given the names of the accused as Maria Dorcas alias Israelite, 28 and Wilkista Achista, 22, both natives of Kenya.
A case was registered against them under Sections, 370, 370 (A) and 370 (3) read with 34 IPC and Sections 4, 5 and 8 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956.
