Azlan Othman
Two human trafficking cases are still in the process of prosecution.
This was said by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof during the 19th Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday, explaining that human trafficking involves exploitation of foreign workers brought to a certain country without their consent.
The minister was responding to a question by LegCo member Yang Berhormat Salleh bin Haji Othman. He also said a committee has been set up against human trafficking by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Its members include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Attorney General’s Chambers, Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Royal Customs and Excise Department, Immigration and National Registration Department, Labour Department and the Community Development Department.
Meanwhile, on whether any Bruneians are detained overseas and have become victims of drug mules after being duped through social media or online, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi said the last case recorded of a Bruneian becoming a drug mule was in 2009.
Since then, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other agencies have taken appropriate action by enhancing public awareness, including students and parents, on the international modus operandi through mass media, print and electronic media, distribution of pamphlets, posters at strategic places and so on. Since the whole-of-nation approach, no Bruneians have become victims of drug trafficking.
The misuse of drugs or international drug syndicate is taken seriously by the government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
Hence the RBPF, NCB and other security and enforcement agencies continue to monitor information and trends of such criminal activities with agencies locally and abroad if such case is recorded involving Brunei citizens.
