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Foday Musa thought his kids were finally getting their big break. In early 2024, traffickers took his 22-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter from their village in Guinea with big promises.
They weren’t alone. These gangs lure young people by promising high-paying roles in the US, Canada, and Dubai.
It turns out the whole thing was a lie. Criminals used the name of a real wellness company as a front for human trafficking activities across the region.
The scammers demand massive fees for “admin costs” before the victims even leave. It’s a vicious cycle of debt that starts before the journey begins.
Musa ended up paying a staggering $25,000 to these traffickers. That money went toward fake joining fees and desperate attempts to buy his children’s freedom.
Once victims are in the system, they’re moved to neighboring countries and held in overcrowded rooms. Police found up to 15 people living in a single room during recent raids.
To keep the money coming from parents, traffickers force victims to take fake photos at airports. They even use international phone numbers to trick families into thinking their kids reached Europe.
The reality is much grimmer. Many victims, some as young as 14 years old, are told they can only leave if they recruit more people into the scam.
This creates a pyramid of exploitation where the victims become the recruiters. It’s a clever way for the trafficking rings to keep growing without getting caught.
The impact on these families is devastating. One victim, 23-year-old Aminata, was forced into sex work just to survive while being held by the gang.
She eventually escaped after a year, but many aren’t so lucky. The shame of losing family money keeps many survivors from even calling home once they’re free.
This is a major problem for authorities in places like the Netherlands and Germany where these networks often claim to be sending workers.
Analysts warn that the legal system isn’t keeping up. In Sierra Leone, there were only four trafficking convictions over a three-year period despite dozens of police raids.
The gangs are highly mobile and use illegal border crossings to stay ahead of the law. They know exactly how to exploit under-resourced police units.
There’s also the psychological toll. Victims feel like they’ve betrayed their own relatives because they were forced to bring them into the scheme.
Even when the police arrest suspects, the masterminds often remain hidden. The 12 arrests made in recent Makeni raids are just the tip of the iceberg.
The company whose name was stolen for the scam has launched an Against Scams campaign. They’re trying to distance themselves from these criminal activities, but the damage is done.
Musa’s daughter has finally returned to Guinea, but she hasn’t spoken to her father yet because of the deep shame she feels.
The search for his son continues, as his whereabouts remain unknown after he was reportedly released by the gang.
Authorities hope that more awareness will stop families from paying these massive fees before verifying job offers. It’s a hard lesson that has cost Foday Musa everything.