Drugs, Arms & Human Trafficking September 15

Jordan’s government is cracking down on human trafficking following a U.S.. lawsuit against a Jordanian company for allegedly participating in the act, according to a U.N. news release. The government has created new committees devoted to drawing up legislation to forbid trafficking and investigate the working conditions of non-Jordanian citizens in various parts of the country. The government’s actions were sparked by accusations of abuse from foreign workers. Some allegations even included accounts of workers being taken captive in their employers’ homes for two years. Reports also cited physical, psychological and sexual abuse.

At least 26 people are dead after being forced to jump from a vessel in the Gulf of Aden on its way from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, reports bi-me.com. While 74 survivors have come forward since the incident, 20 are still missing. Survivors have reported that all 150 passengers of were forced overboard and those who refused were either killed or pushed. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that the Gulf of Aden has been an active area recently for human trafficking. Since January, nearly 26,000 people have been smuggled through the gulf. 

The US Customs and Border Protection and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have joined in an effort to fight human trafficking across US borders, reports the Imperial Valley News. The two launched the trafficking awareness campaign Sept. 9 with the theme “death is not the only way to lose your life” and will focus on making US citizens aware of the prevalence of the crime and its effects. The Department of State reports that traffickers force 600,000 to 800,000 people across national borders around the world every year. Up to 17,500 of those are brought across US borders.

The US State Department has accused three top aides of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of assisting a ring of Colombian arms and drug traffickers, reports the Associated Press. Officials have also “expelled” Chavez’s ambassador from Washington on Friday. The US Department of the Treasury said the Chavez’s aides had were providing arms to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC), what the Treasury calls a narco-terrorist organization. Former FARC members have reported to the AP that the Venezuelan military has facilitated housing and medical attention to its members in the past.

A Crystal, Minnesota man will serve two years probation and 90 days of home confinement for his involvement in an Asian prostitution ring, according to the Fort Mill Times. The 59-year old Craig Kraft pleaded guilty to the charges of “conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States” in May. Kraft’s alleged involvement in the prostitution ring consisted of flying Asian women to Minnesota to be part of the ring run by Liqing Liu of St. Paul. The ring operated in homes and motels across Minneapolis, Bloomington, Golden Valley and Plymouth. Liu has not yet been sentenced.