The recent warning from the Philippines' immigration agency regarding a new sophisticated scheme to traffick Filipino women to China as mail-order brides is raising concerns about potential connections to Chinese organised crime and trafficking syndicates. 

Experts noted that the interception of a 20-year-old Filipino woman and a 34-year-old Chinese man attempting to travel to Shenzhen as a married couple highlights the seriousness of the issue. Such cases underscore the need for heightened vigilance and proactive measures to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals, particularly women and girls who may be targeted by these schemes. 

They opined that authorities in both the Philippines and China must work closely to investigate and dismantle these trafficking networks, while also implementing measures to raise awareness, provide support services for victims, and strengthen border controls to prevent such exploitation from occurring in the first place. Additionally, international cooperation and collaboration among law enforcement agencies are crucial in addressing transnational organized crime activities like human trafficking. 

Commissioner Norman Tansingco's statement underscores the reemergence of the mail-order bride scheme as a pressing issue. The cases described highlight the sophistication of the scheme, with perpetrators using genuine marriage certificates and presenting seemingly authentic documents to evade detection. 

The fact that the woman in the first incident admitted to paying a significant amount of money to an agent for processing the marriage document reflects the exploitation and financial burden placed on vulnerable individuals seeking opportunities abroad. Similarly, in the second incident, the revelation that the purported husband paid a China-based agency to process the documents indicates the involvement of organized networks facilitating such fraudulent activities. 

These incidents underscore the importance of thorough scrutiny by immigration authorities to detect inconsistencies and verify the authenticity of documents presented in cases involving potential human trafficking or exploitation. Additionally, they highlight the need for enhanced awareness and education among the public, particularly among those who may be targeted by such schemes, to prevent further victimization and exploitation. Collaboration between law enforcement agencies in the Philippines and China is crucial to disrupt and dismantle these networks effectively. 

Four such couples have been intercepted so far this year, according to immigration officials, who expressed particular concern over their ability to produce authentic documents. 

Initial investigations by the immigration bureau’s anti-fraud section showed the certificates were “seemingly original”, deputy spokesman Melvin Mabulac told media on March 7, prompting the Department of Justice, as head of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, “to further conduct a probe on how these documents have been released”. 

This Week in Asia has contacted the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and Bureau of Investigation for comments. 

Image Source: Asian Development Bank