Samoa Immigration kicks out 8 suspected human traffickers

Samoa Immigration officials have prevented 8 suspected human traffickers from entering the county.

The foreigners who were identified as Asians were intending to transit through Apia and travel onwards to American Samoa.

Newsline Samoa reports local immigration officials discovered that they arrived Sunday without visas to enter the territory but were planning to apply while on transit in Samoa.

According to Chief Immigration Officer, Valavala Siaopo Pese, the visitors did not have proper documents to do that and were sent back to Fiji.

“They were turned back as they didn’t have complete documentation to transit through Samoa on to Pago Pago,” Valavala explained.

 “As we all understand entry visas can’t be granted when an immigrant who transits through Samoa hoping to go to another country is not in possession of complete documentation.

“These people were turned back because all they had were their passports and they did not have any documentations to enter American Samoa.

“We sent them back to Fiji because they cannot remain in Samoa while their permits are being processed from Pago.

“Samoa is not a waiting place, they should have all their travel documents ready when transiting through Samoa.”

The travellers are suspected to be part of a human trafficking set-up.

The tip off to local immigration of the suspected group who were denied entry into Samoa came from their counterparts in Fiji.

 

Photo Loop Samoa. Caption: Faleolo International Airport, Samoa