Woman Posing Under False Identity Arrested for Running Domestic Worker Trafficking Ring in Capital

TDT | Manama

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Authorities have arrested a woman operating under a false identity who was running a domestic worker trafficking network from a dimly lit apartment in the capital. Known among runaway housemaids as “the savior,” she lured vulnerable workers with promises of better job opportunities, shelter, food, and security, only to control and exploit them under her management.

According to the Anti-Human Trafficking Division at the Ministry of Interior, investigations began after a confidential tip-off was received. A senior officer led the surveillance operation, which culminated in the suspect’s arrest as she attempted to enter the apartment she had turned into a hideout for trafficked workers.

During the raid, another illegal worker was found inside the apartment. She had recently escaped her sponsor’s home with the help of the accused and was awaiting placement in a new household.

The Third High Criminal Appeals Court upheld a six-month prison sentence and a BD500 fine for the second defendant for her role in harboring and employing runaway domestic workers illegally. She was found to have helped several workers flee their legal sponsors, housed them in her apartment, and coordinated their employment with families in need of undocumented help. She charged BD35 from each household and paid BD5 to taxi drivers who transported the workers.

Statements revealed that the accused had lived in Bahrain for three to four years, working part-time in homes before expanding into trafficking activities. Her operation included identifying vulnerable workers, promising them better conditions, and managing their movement and employment illegally.

The first defendant, a domestic worker staying in the country illegally after her visa expired, was fined BD10 and ordered to be deported. The second defendant, the mastermind of the network, was found guilty of knowingly assisting and sheltering an illegal resident.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of Bahraini authorities to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.