Dhaka seeks Interpol red alert for 5 human traffickers

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police has requested the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to issue red notices for five Bangladeshi citizens who are on the run with human trafficking charges.

Sayeda Zannat Ara, special superintendent of police to the CID Special Crime Unit, confirmed it to The Business Standard Monday.  

Although the CID did not disclose the names to the media, it is assumed that the individuals could be associated to human trafficking to Libya and massacre of at least 26 Bangladeshi nationals in the North African country in last May. Subsequently, law enforcers launched coordinated raids in the country and claimed to have busted several national and international trafficking gangs.      

The CID puts the request to Interpol through its Bangladesh office National Central Bureau at the police headquarters in Dhaka.

Assistant Inspector General of the bureau Mohiul Islam also told TBS that they had already sent the traffickers' information to Interpol. "In reply, Interpol asked for more details about them by 10 December this year," he added.

CID official Zannat Ara said they were collecting information and they would submit it to the bureau by the date.

In the first week of November, Minto Mia, a 41-year old man, became the first human Bangladeshi trafficker featuring in the red notice corner of Interpol upon the request of the CID.  

The Interpol describes Minto as deceiving and alluring targets with promises for suitable job, wrongfully confining and killing for ransoms through an organised human trafficking racket.

About Minto, CID official Syeda Zannat Ara said he is one of the six traffickers that Bangladesh asked Interpol to put on its wanted list.

She said the traffickers tricked people by taking money with promises to give them lucrative jobs in Europe. But, they would be held hostage and tortured for ransom once the aspirant migrants left the country for their dream jobs.     

Interpol red notices are issued for fugitives wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

CID official Zannat Ara said putting the details on the Interpol website will restrict their movements in their host countries. "And, once they are arrested in any Interpol member state, we will initiate the extradition through a mutual agreement with the country," she added.   

At present, more than 70 Bangladeshis are on Interpol's red list.