Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, have rescued two Colombian women allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate.
The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued in Lagos on Wednesday, August 26, following intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to the police, the two women were allegedly deceived into travelling to Nigeria before being held against their will and having their travel documents confiscated.
The police said the suspected members of the trafficking syndicate, identified as Chinese nationals, fled their hideout when they noticed the arrival of the operatives.
The suspects were said to have abandoned the location, prompting the police to intensify efforts to track them down and bring them to justice.
The development highlights the cross-border nature of human trafficking, which often involves criminal networks operating across different countries and using deception to move victims from one location to another.
According to the police statement, the operation began after actionable intelligence was received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá, concerning the whereabouts of the two Colombian nationals.
The information was immediately acted upon by operatives of the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL at its Lagos Annex.
“Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day,” the statement said.
The police said the operation was carried out discreetly to avoid alerting the suspected traffickers and to ensure the safe recovery of the victims.
However, the suspects reportedly noticed the approaching police team and fled the location before the operatives could arrest them.
“The fleeing suspects abandoned the location upon sighting the approaching team, and efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” the statement added.
Although the police did not disclose the exact location of the hideout or provide further details about how the women were recruited, they said the victims had been fraudulently lured into Nigeria.
The women were also said to have been deprived of their freedom after arriving in the country, while their travel documents were taken from them.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged recruitment and the purpose for which the victims were brought into Nigeria were not immediately disclosed by the police.
The rescued women are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support, according to the Force.
“The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support,” the statement said.
The police did not state whether the women had suffered physical harm during their period of captivity.
Arrangements were, however, being made to return them to Colombia with the assistance of the Colombian Embassy in Accra.
The embassy is working with the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL to provide temporary accommodation for the victims and obtain emergency travel documents required for their return.
“The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working in close collaboration with the Bureau to secure hotel accommodations for the victims and arrange emergency travel documents to ensure their safe return to Bogotá,” the police said.
The involvement of INTERPOL in the operation reflects the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in tackling crimes that cross national borders.
INTERPOL provides a platform through which police forces in different countries can share intelligence and coordinate efforts against international criminal networks.
Human trafficking is one of the major transnational crimes requiring such cooperation because victims can be recruited in one country, moved through another and exploited in a different location.
Criminal networks often use false promises of employment, better living conditions, education, marriage or other opportunities to persuade potential victims to travel.
Once victims arrive at their destination, traffickers may seize their passports or other documents, restrict their movement and use threats, violence or other forms of pressure to control them.
The latest operation also underscores the need for vigilance among people seeking opportunities outside their countries.
The police have repeatedly warned members of the public to verify employment offers, travel arrangements and the identities of people making such offers before travelling abroad or accepting opportunities in unfamiliar countries.
Nigeria has for years faced challenges linked to human trafficking, both as a source and destination country and as a transit point for victims moved to other parts of the world.
The country has established laws and institutions to fight trafficking, including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.
The agency works with the police, other security agencies and international partners to prevent trafficking, rescue victims, prosecute offenders and provide support to survivors.
Despite these efforts, trafficking networks continue to adapt their methods, making international intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement operations important in breaking up such groups.
In the latest case, the police said they had intensified efforts to locate and arrest the fleeing suspects.
The Force also promised to work towards dismantling the trafficking network responsible for the alleged abduction and detention of the Colombian women.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting residents and strengthening cooperation with international law enforcement agencies.
According to the statement, Disu “reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents within the country, while deepening collaboration with international law enforcement partners to combat cross-border crimes.”
The IGP’s position comes as Nigerian security agencies continue to face the challenge of tackling organised criminal groups whose activities extend beyond the country’s borders.
The police said the successful rescue was made possible through the timely exchange of intelligence between the Nigerian and Colombian INTERPOL offices.
The operation also demonstrated the role of rapid response in cases involving suspected trafficking and unlawful detention, where delays can increase the risk faced by victims.
For the two Colombian nationals, the immediate priority is their safety and eventual return home.
The Colombian diplomatic authorities are expected to continue working with the Nigerian police until the necessary travel documents and other arrangements are completed.
Meanwhile, the police investigation into the trafficking network is continuing, with operatives working to identify and arrest those behind the alleged scheme.
As the investigation continues, the police said their focus remains on ensuring that the rescued women receive the necessary support while efforts are made to dismantle the network and bring its members to justice.