Ugandan authorities have made a startling arrest, apprehending a 17-year-old student on a staggering 170 counts of trafficking. The arrest took place on September 18th in central Uganda.
According to the police, the student had allegedly kept 170 young individuals at the residence of a 28-year-old woman, promising them employment opportunities in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. However, investigations have revealed that the entire trafficking scheme was nothing more than an elaborate scam.
During interrogation, the student confessed to attempting to extort money from the victims by falsely associating with a non-existent company called Humble Company in Kenya. The job advertisements for positions such as waiters, waitresses, coffee parkers, and supermarket attendants were all fabricated.
Reports from Uganda’s privately-owned Daily Monitor newspaper indicate that 98 victims paid the student 100,000 Ugandan shillings ($26; £21) each, while the remaining victims paid 50,000 shillings. The student is yet to enter a plea as the legal proceedings continue.
This shocking incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by human trafficking and the need for continued efforts to combat this heinous crime.