Online patrols begin to combat human trafficking
DODOMA: THE Police Force has launched online patrols in collaboration with government institutions and mobile network operators to track human traffickers increasingly using social media to recruit victims.
The Officer in Charge of the Gender and Children’s Desk for Dodoma Region Police, Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP), Christa Kayombo, said the operation is being conducted in collaboration with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the Immigration Department, the National Prosecution Services and the courts to strengthen the fight against human trafficking.
Speaking in Dodoma recently on the sidelines of a two-day training for law enforcement officers on investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases, Assistant Inspector Kayombo said the collaboration is aimed at ensuring thorough investigations and successful prosecution of offenders.
“By collaborating with the National Prosecution Services, courts, welfare officers and immigration officials, we ensure investigations are conducted thoroughly so that suspects are ultimately held accountable in our courts. We are also enhancing intelligence gathering,” she said.
She said police have strengthened intelligence gathering to identify trafficking activities before they develop into crimes, with greater emphasis on prevention.
Ms Kayombo said officers from the Gender and Children’s Desk continue to educate parents, young people, people with disabilities, motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) operators, business owners and other community groups on the dangers of human trafficking through community policing programmes.
She said victims of human trafficking also receive psychological support to help them recover and rebuild their lives, enabling some of them to become advocates who raise awareness in their communities.
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The assistant inspector said the training organised by Tanzania Relief Initiatives (TRI) with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation had equipped officers with additional skills to investigate trafficking cases and strengthen prevention efforts.
“First, our capacity has been built regarding this trade, the tactics used, its impacts and how we can prevent it. We will use this knowledge to educate communities through community policing programmes so they can avoid falling victim to traffickers,” she said.
An officer from the Anti Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, Mr Daniel Joseph, said traffickers are increasingly exploiting social media and other digital platforms to lure victims with false promises of well-paying jobs in Tanzania and abroad.
He said countries frequently used in the false recruitment schemes include Oman, Malaysia and Egypt.
“Previously, traffickers recruited victims through face-to-face interactions. Today, they have shifted to social media platforms. Although social media was created for positive purposes, traffickers are exploiting these platforms to deceive people with false promises of lucrative employment opportunities both inside and outside the nation,” he said.
