Five women have been rescued from a human trafficking network which had forced them into prostitution in Jerusalem, Israel
Investigations revealed that network members operated from the Tel Aviv area and illegally imported women from South Africa to Israel with the intent of employing them as prostitutes.
In a report by Israel’s national broadcaster KAN, it was revealed that the raid, conducted in June, targeted a suspected brothel where South African women were found.
A video aired by KAN, showed police seizing cellphones and cash.
The women reportedly told police investigators that they were thrown naked into the street after one of the alleged traffickers was dissatisfied with their performance.
Testimonies collected from the women also indicated that they were brought to Israel from South Africa via Jordan under various pretexts.
The broadcaster added that three of the women were rescued in Jerusalem and the other two were found in Tel Aviv.
In Tel Aviv, police found the victims in the company of three South Africans, two men and a woman, all in their 40s, they were arrested and are still in custody.
A few days later, another suspect, also a South African, was arrested in south Tel Aviv.
In July, a fifth suspect with Nigerian and South African citizenship in his 40s, was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport while trying to flee Israel.
The broadcaster said it was suspected that the detainees were in contact with women and in various accidents, brought them to Israel under the cover of pilgrims through Jordan and Ben Gurion Airport.
Meanwhile, the women have been transferred to a shelter for trafficked victims.
Speaking to IOL, Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, said the department hasn’t been notified about the incident but they are following up on the report.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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