Police suspect Malta-based African sex slave export
The police are investigating a suspected racket through which young African girls are lured from Malta into European sex-slavery rings.
The suspicions were confirmed last Wednesday when a young, attractive Somali girl turned up at the airport to buy a plane ticket to Denmark. When she was arrested for possession of a counterfeit Italian travel document, she could not identify her final destination.
She told police she was given the travel document and offered the ticket money by a co-national in Malta. The woman was told that someone would pick her up at Copenhagen airport. However, she would not name the man or give more details for fear of reprisals.
The Italian passport was a fake copy of a document which Italy issues to asylum seekers who have been processed and been given some form of status.
Police believe her story because it is consistent with others that have surfaced in the past three months or so whereby young African girls have said they are being lured to mainland Europe by the promise of an arranged marriage.
In the past, migrants trying to flee the country illegally were predominantly male, but the number of women making their way out has risen of late. But unlike their male counterparts, the women do not appear to have contacts or plans in the country they would be travelling to.
“The probability is that they would then end up being turned into sex slaves,” one police source said. “We do have some corroborating information from our European contacts but we’re a long way from establishing a link.”
Once there, the girls would end up in a soaring trade of European sex slaves – women who are literally sold by criminal organisations, often for as little as a few hundred euros, to pimps all over Europe and forced into prostitution. The line the local police are following is that the girls are being lured with the promise of an arranged marriage and a better life in northern Europe.
Arranged marriages are the norm for nationals of a number of African countries, especially war-torn Somalia, where millions follow customs that fuse a conservative form of Islam with tribal traditions.
“It is unlikely, especially for Somali girls, that they walk into the sex trade consciously,” one immigrant told The Sunday Times. “Prostitution would be taboo for them, but I have heard about this kind of racket going on... obviously it’s very hush hush.”
The Somali girl was charged in court for trying to leave Malta illegally. During the arraignment, Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri told the court the woman had no knowledge of her destination or any family to go to but had been given the false travel document by a man who seemed to be targeting women.
Legal aid lawyer Cedric Mifsud said his client would be pleading guilty and asked Magistrate Antonio Mizzi to take into consideration that she would be helping police with their inquiry. She was jailed for six months, suspended for six months.
(The Sunday Times)
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R.Borg
Jul 6th 2010, 06:31
First of all, Congratulations once again to our Police Force!
Secondly, what is the EU exactly doing against these injustices?
Why am I asking this question?
For the simple reason that the RED LIGHT DISTRICTS OF EUROPE and the INNUMERABLE PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITES need the necessary human resources for them to be manned.
And to-day, not only white flesh is needed but also black.
There seems to be a contradiction somewhere especially when various european politicians lose their prestige and position when they are caught in amoral/immoral behaviour.
SINCERE ACTIONS PLEASE!
mario aquilina
Jul 6th 2010, 00:11
@KJ Vella. You said 'The cops saved a life here'. Did you ask the girl whether being caught is what she really wanted. The clever ones that turn to prostitution, make more money, than you or me can or will do, running a successful business.
Back in the mid eighties, when the Polish where still queueing for bread as seen on TV, at the time of the great Lech Walesa, there was an article on a Padova/Italy newspaper that said that the Polish girls working as a prostitute in Padova where making enough money in one year, that each one of them, can return to Poland and buy a hotel. Looks like this girl could be missing out.
Let's praise: our doctors, nurses, priests, nuns, president, prime minister, butcher, milkman, farmer etc.etc. Oh, I must also mention my clandestine African street cleaner, who does a better job than any Maltese street cleaner did before him. And that's no joke, I mean what I said. But how many of you appreciate that. Would you praise him. No you won't.
Do you happen to be a police officer!!!
Karl Consiglio
Jul 5th 2010, 08:38
What about the man who provided her with the documents? After all HE is the real criminal in this story. Will he remain free because she fears what would happen if she mentions his name? What a lack of justice and protection that is.
Jesmond Micallef
Jul 4th 2010, 19:59
Thugs dealing in this monkey business are nothing else but pure filth and they belong indeed behind bars in a zoo for everybody to appreciate that not all upright two legged creatures have as yet evolved into homo sapiens. I congratulate the Malta Police for this investigation and may they continue to crack down on this pure filth. It just shows how sick modern cultures are becoming. The Interpol and other the european authorities should crack down heavily on these criminal activities. These poor souls are prime targets indeed.
mario aquilina
Jul 4th 2010, 19:20
On my travels through Italy, especially around the Naples/Rome country side, I often see these African girls selling sex, all through the day, in open view for anyone who drives by.
And I mean open view, as most of the time, all they got on is a pair of high heel shoes and a Tshirt.
How many times in your lives have you praised your local baker for the good bread he supplies you with, on a daily basis? You pay him for the loaf, and that's the end of that.
Why is it different with the police. Isn't catching the criminal, and keeping us in check their duty!!! Unnecessary pat on the back.
The deterrent: Legal Aid and six months jail suspended for six months.
K J Vella
Jul 5th 2010, 07:42
Ah but there is bread and good bread. I think it is nice to encourage people and show them our appreciation. We shouldn't just complain; we should also praise. Yes the police were only doing their job but (a) it is not the most enjoyable job in the world to deal with criminals all day long (so it may be very discouraging) and (b) give credit where credit is due. The cops saved a life here and we're all saying "well done for doing so". Appreciate man, don't just denigrate.
A. Spiteri
Jul 4th 2010, 17:35
I wouldn't be surprised that when the names of those involved in perpetrating this Malta-based African sex slave export emerge emerge they would include some Maltese holier-than-thou bleeding-heart.
anthea doughty
Jul 4th 2010, 16:18
The export of women for sex slave purposes is widespread throughout the world and indeed Europe. Why be surprised. These peoples who arrive illegally and with nothing are prime targets.
Evarist Saliba
Jul 6th 2010, 15:24
..... and possibly traffickers themselves, though they present themselves as refugees.
cecil herbert jones
Jul 4th 2010, 16:13
The woman`s good luck is that she was caught at the airport, and I don't think they did a particularly great job. They were just doing their job.
However she wouldn`t have needed to escape so desperately from Malta had she, like others been given a proper education, which is crucial and urgent in the African immigrants` case.
Why keep people here if they are made to feel it is being done against our will?
cecil herbert jones
Jul 4th 2010, 17:24
I meant to say that I don't think the Police did a particularly great job. They were just doing their job. Having said this they did a good job that inadvertently may have saved this woman's life.
joseph cachia
Jul 4th 2010, 13:47
Either she disclose the person/s who gave her the fake document or be sent back to
somalia
Robert Callus
Jul 4th 2010, 15:15
By sending her back to Somalia the Police will only be doing a favor to the traffickers. Up to now they have done a really good job, but in the way you propose their job would only be reduced to that of catching a minor with a false document.
Considering the fact that in many African countries as well as some in Europe the Police are accomplices with the traffickers, the most difficult thing is to win the girl's trust. While I am positive that Malta's Police can do it, by threatening the way you propose it will not work. The girl will be fearing reprisals to the extent that even going back to Somalia might seem the better option.
Ramon Casha
Jul 5th 2010, 10:30
The last thing that the police should do is to give out the message that anyone who goes to the authorities will lose, and that the only chance a person has is to go along with the traffickers.
MARGARET RICHARDS
Jul 4th 2010, 11:21
A big well done to the Malta Police Force, for the sterling work in ALL sectors!!! You make us proud!!!
Joseph Borg
Jul 4th 2010, 10:48
I hope she gets proper police protection and an undentified place where she can stay. Otherwise she will disappear (get killed) in no time....
A Bezzina
Jul 4th 2010, 10:21
This dehumanisation of the person is very sad indeed! Perhaps this story will help the many anti-immigrant Maltese nationals to understand better the desperate situations that migrants find themselves in, and the victimisation that they continue to face, even after seeking refuge here in Malta. May we open our eyes to the truth ...
K J Vella
Jul 4th 2010, 10:01
Well done Police! 10 points for rescuing this girl from a sad life that could have come to a very cruel end. Let's hope you catch the culprits. Way to go boys in blue!
G. Grech
Jul 6th 2010, 13:58
If the boys in blue wanted to go down all the way, then they would have uncovered the whole ring not just arrested the poor girl. It's like the drug pushing businesses. The whole ring has to be studied before anyone gets arrested. The arrest of the girl has now prompted the real BIG culprits to change tactics.