Hanoi cops recruited to tackle people traffickers Vietnamese officers will help Scots fight evil trade
ELITE Vietnamese police officers have arrived in Scotland to help in the fight against the scourge of human trafficking.
Police Scotland recruited officers Hiep Nguyen Hoang and Duy Nguyen Xuan for a six- month secondment, where they will be used in raids and routine visits to root out exploited slave labour.
The officers, who arrived two weeks ago, are usually based in Hanoi and were recruited after Police Scotland visited Vietnam last year, to foster crosscountry links and stem the flow of people smuggling.
Last year, 397 referrals we re received by Police Scotland’s Nat i o n a l Human Trafficking Un i t between January and November, 196 of which were Vietnamese nationals – but this is known to be the tip of the iceberg.
Lieutenant Colonel Xuan said: “My job is tackling illegal human trafficking in Vietnam and there is a big problem with Vietnam ese be i n g trafficked to Scotland.
“Us being here will help us to gather intelligence and get to the gangs who do the trafficking.
“The victims are often from rural areas, they are poor and sometimes abused. The traffickers lie to them, promising a job and a better life. In Vietnam we have been tackling this for a long time but it is complex and difficult.
“Being here will benefit Scotland and Vietnam and help us get to the gangs responsible.”
Forced labour, often in cannabis cultivation, is the most common form of exploitation, followed by sex work for women and girls.
The officer in charge of major crime for Police Scotland, Assistant Chief Constable Judi Heaton, said it was impossible to know the true numbers of victims. She said drafting in the Vietnamese officers, would help forge l inks between the two countries.
ACC He a t o n said: “It will provide reassurance to Vietnamese people who have trafficked here that we have officers who understand their culture and language.
“This will also help the Vietnamese officers to understand what happens to people who are exported as a commodity into Scotland. Slavery isn’t a thing of the past, it is happening right here in Scotland.”
This Sunday marks World Anti-Slavery Day and Police Scotland will today launch a social media campaign to encourage the public to help identify potential victims.