Corruption Facilitates Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia

Research by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found that corruption facilitates and facilitates human trafficking and human smuggling in Southeast Asia. It is impossible for this crime to occur without corruption.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Korupsi Memfasilitasi Perdagangan Manusia di Asia Tenggara

KOMPAS/KHAERUDIN

Senior Commissioner Assistant of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Mohammed Reemos Khan (right) presented findings from the operation conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on a human trafficking and migrant smuggling syndicate, at the UNODC Conference on Corruption and Human Trafficking in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday (22/11/2023).

BANGKOK, KOMPAS - The latest research from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the Asia Pacific region has found that corruption has greatly facilitated and facilitated human trafficking and smuggling in Southeast Asia. Corruption even occurs at all levels of human trafficking activities, from the initial interaction between perpetrators and victims to law enforcement and victim protection stages.

A study conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with The Bali Process, a multilateral organization supporting global efforts to combat human trafficking. Although significant and widespread crimes occur in Bali Process member countries, research on human trafficking and the smuggling of people in this region is considered to be very limited. Most Bali Process members are Asia-Pacific countries.

The research is also motivated by the neglect and lack of documentation on corruption. This crime often facilitates and accelerates human trafficking and smuggling.

Also read: Trafficking in Persons as a Republican Problem

"We acknowledge that these criminals are often enabled and facilitated by both the public and private sectors' corruption. However, discussing corruption is often deemed unimportant, highly stigmatized, unpopular, and difficult to be discussed, documented, and dealt with," said Rebecca Miller, the Regional Coordinator of UNODC for Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, during the Regional Conference on Corruption as a Facilitator of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday (22/11/2023).

The two-day conference specifically discussed the UNODC's research results. Several important findings confirmed the previous discovery about how corruption facilitates and simplifies human trafficking and smuggling.

There are at least nine contexts of corruption that often occur in human trafficking and smuggling. The contexts range from recruitment of migrant workers and human trafficking victims; procurement and manipulation of documents; cross-border transportation; movement of victims through airports; accommodation; law enforcement and investigation related to human trafficking; prosecution and trial of perpetrators; and interaction between service providers, perpetrators, and victims.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The suspects involved in human trafficking have been arrested and their cases have been revealed by the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) in Gambir, Jakarta on Thursday (13/09/2018). The police have uncovered two cases of human trafficking to Morocco and Malaysia that have involved minors from Sukabumi which leading to the involvement of eight perpetrators.

Most of the corruption evidence available from this research is related to government tasks in the field of recruitment of migrant workers, travel document creation, border security, and criminal investigation processes. Officials in these areas are vulnerable to bribery, including law enforcement officers (police, prosecutors, and judges), immigration officers, officials in the recruitment of migrant workers, and officials responsible for issuing all travel documents.

All countries are impacted by human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and corruption. We also know that these crimes will not stop anytime soon.

The research findings have shown that 22 percent of the 3,977 surveyed people mentioned bribery and extortion. Out of the surveyed victims, 28 percent or 1,120 individuals admitted that the perpetrators assisted them in dealing with relevant authorities.

KOMPAS/KHAERUDIN

One of the main findings in the research conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on corruption in the context of human trafficking and smuggling was revealed at the Conference on Corruption and Human Trafficking in Bangkok on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 21-22 2023.

Another research finding shows that 40 percent of human trafficking and migrant smuggling perpetrators directly or indirectly contacted government officials. Of that number, 60 percent admitted to giving gifts to related government employees as an additional expense to be paid officially.

"Several people we interviewed said that the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking is almost impossible to occur without the involvement of official border personnel and bribery. Some inspection posts may be used by smugglers and human traffickers because there are officers who can be bribed," said Anti-Corruption Advisor for the UNODC Regional Office, Annika Wythes."

Also read: Child Trafficking Continues to Recur

Creating impunity

The research also found that government employees at the lowest level are usually the ones who receive the legal consequences when it comes to corruption related to human trafficking and smuggling. According to Miller, corruption cases related to obstructing criminal investigations of human trafficking and smuggling are often found.

"There are frequent cases of corruption that aim to obstruct investigations into exploitative situations against victims. In addition, corruption also creates impunity for these perpetrators," he said.

Wythes added that one of the significant findings of this research is bribery that occurs among prosecutors and judges. "Money (bribe) becomes a form of substitute for dropping charges and effort to ensure that the perpetrator is acquitted or given minimum punishment," he said.

The final point is that human trafficking crimes are still occurring and increasing, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Miller, the pandemic has caused many people to lose their jobs and seek better livelihoods in other countries. However, this situation has become a loophole for perpetrators to exploit potential victims.

Also read: Child Trafficking Increases during the Pandemic

"All countries are affected by human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and corruption. We also know that these crimes will not stop anytime soon. Economic and social inequalities are increasingly exacerbated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts, and climate change. This creates a condition where individuals are constantly driven to seek better opportunities, but also to flee persecution and violence. Human trafficking and smuggling perpetrators exploit these vulnerabilities," said Miller, who is also a former immigration official of New Zealand."

ARSIP POLRI

The National Police collaborated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to rescue victims of suspected human trafficking in Thailand, Saturday (6/5/2023). A total of 20 Indonesian citizens were successfully rescued from being forced to work as online fraudsters in Myanmar.

Furthermore, UNODC research found that there are quite significant profits generated by migrant smuggling and human trafficking. "This may lead to corruption on a large scale and provide a pathway for money laundering and hiding illicitly obtained profits. Corruption also serves as a facilitator for migrant smuggling and human trafficking. These crimes are the main drivers of both of these offenses," he said.