New Zealand committed to international fight against people smuggling, trafficking

New Zealand is committed to working with a group of seven other countries in continuing a new initiative to fight people smuggling and trafficking, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said Monday.

The Joint Period of Action was carried out by Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and also involved Interpol.

Law enforcement and immigration agencies from the eight countries conducted separate but co-ordinated activities as part of the Bali Process Working Group on the Disruption of Criminal Networks co-chaired by New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Criminal networks involved in the online commercial sexual exploitation of children were targeted.

Trafficking for sexual and labor exploitation was investigated across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, farming, fishing, beauty services, and domestic work.

During the Joint Period of Action, authorities across the eight countries assisted 59 trafficked persons, identified 63 suspects, made 32 arrests, launched eight new investigations and made over 70 enquires to progress current investigations.

"This is the first time countries under the Bali Process have undertaken a Joint Period of Action. The outcomes achieved reflect the shared commitment of New Zealand and other regional partners to disrupt and dismantle these networks," Woodhouse said in a statement.

"We look forward to working again with our regional partners through a similar joint initiative next year."

The Bali Process brings participating countries together to work on practical measures to help combat people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crimes in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

"We recognize that people smuggling and trafficking in persons are significant regional problems that require countries to work together to find regional solutions," Woodhouse said.

"New Zealand has already strengthened our legislation to send a clear message to potential people smuggling ventures that we are not a soft touch and our commitment to combating these complex crimes is the main reason why New Zealand established the Working Group under the Bali process." Endit