The Philippines Bureau of Immigration at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 thwarted a human trafficking attempt when a woman was intercepted trying to leave the country with a forged departure stamp. An airport technician suspected of assisting her was also arrested.
According to reports, the woman, 36, used the alias "Maria" to book and board her flight, claiming she had "already cleared customs and just went out to eat," but immigration officers saw through her deception and took her in for questioning. The immigration bureau's forensic team confirmed that the departure stamp on her passport was forged. During the investigation, "Maria" claimed she had handed her passport to a so-called "helper" who could assist with the departure, who demanded approximately $2,000 in cryptocurrency as a "customs clearance service fee."
Further investigation revealed that the helper, who called himself "Ane" and posed as an immigration officer, was actually a technical support staff for an airport outsourcing company, responsible for maintaining immigration system equipment, and used his job convenience to create a false impression to help her bypass security checks.
On June 6, Joel Anthony Viaje, the Director of the Immigration Bureau, stated that the case reflects the continuous evolution of human trafficking methods. Criminals not only impersonate official identities but also use cryptocurrencies to hide transaction paths, increasing the difficulty of tracing. "Such actions endanger national border security and infringe on the freedom and personal safety of travelers," he said, emphasizing the need to plug technological loopholes and strengthen airport security systems.
The two suspects have been handed over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation, and relevant departments are investigating whether there is an organized conspiracy network or more suspects involved.
The Immigration Bureau reminds travelers not to be deceived by enticing promises of "fast-track clearance" or "high-paying jobs abroad," especially involving transactions with Bitcoin and other virtual assets, to avoid falling into illegal exit traps.
