MUSCAT — The Sultanate of Oman joins other countries of the world in observing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, marked annually on July 30, underscoring the importance of enhancing international efforts to combat and prevent this transnational crime, protect its victims, and support human rights.
Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that World Day Against Trafficking in Persons represents an opportunity to renew collective commitment to safeguarding human dignity and protecting individuals from various forms of exploitation and coercion. He stressed that human trafficking is not only a violation of the law, but also a direct assault on human freedom and rights. He added that the Sultanate of Oman addresses human trafficking through an integrated national approach based on prevention, protection, prosecution, and institutional partnership, placing victims’ rights and safety at the core of its response.
He emphasised that the enactment of the Law on Combating Human Trafficking under Royal Decree No. 78/2025 reinforced this approach, keeping pace with emerging methods of this crime and expanding the scope of protection provided to victims. He noted that this year’s theme, “Trapped in the Fraud Trap,” highlights one of the rapidly growing forms of this crime, which involves luring individuals with fake job offers and subsequently subjecting them to exploitation and coercing them into committing online fraud. This evolution, he said, requires tighter international cooperation, regular exchange of information and expertise, and cross-border judicial and security coordination.
Al Harthy reaffirmed that the Sultanate of Oman continues to work with its regional and international partners to prevent this crime, protect victims of human trafficking, and hold perpetrators accountable, thereby preserving human dignity and reinforcing the rule of law.
For his part, Brigadier Jamal Habib Al Quraishi, Director General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), told Oman News Agency that this observance aims to raise community awareness regarding the dangers of human trafficking and its impact on individuals and society. It also seeks to raise awareness about prevention methods and mechanisms for reporting suspected cases, protect victims, and enhance the efforts of law enforcement agencies and international cooperation to confront this crime. He affirmed that combating human trafficking is a national and humanitarian responsibility requiring concerted action from government agencies, citizens, and residents alike. He pointed out that this year’s theme carries connotations reflecting a major shift in the methods of organized crime, shedding light on coercion in committing cybercrimes, such as luring victims through fictitious employment advertisements promising lucrative work opportunities abroad. Upon traveling, victims find themselves detained in facilities equipped to execute large-scale online fraud, including romance scams, cryptocurrency scams, and other offenses.
He explained that human trafficking crimes in the Sultanate of Oman remain limited and low in number, with all forms of exploitation firmly confronted in accordance with the law while prioritizing victim protection and support. At the same time, they are treated as serious offenses that violate human dignity and rights.
Royal Oman Police, in cooperation with the Public Prosecution and competent government authorities, works to monitor, combat, and curb these crimes in their various forms. He indicated that the primary manifestations of human trafficking include exploiting victims through forced labor—by compelling them to work under illegal conditions, withholding their travel documents, failing to pay their wages, or forcing them to work long hours under duress. They also include exploiting victims in acts contrary to public morals or other forms of exploitation.
He noted that during this year, the Royal Oman Police succeeded in dismantling a criminal network specialized in luring and exploiting individuals to smuggle narcotics into various countries by deceiving victims with promises of lucrative employment opportunities abroad. While completing travel procedures in their home countries, the victims were detained and forced under threat to swallow capsules filled with narcotic substances.
The operation resulted in the arrest of the gang members in an apartment in Muscat Governorate after tracking one victim who arrived at Muscat International Airport carrying narcotics inside his body. The police also foiled the network’s attempt to smuggle another quantity of narcotics out of the country. He added that the Directorate General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations, in cooperation with the Public Prosecution and relevant government bodies, monitors and combats these crimes through an integrated system that includes monitoring and analysis, receiving reports, gathering evidence, and early detection of human trafficking indicators—particularly at air and land entry ports—as well as arresting perpetrators and referring them to the Public Prosecution, and conducting joint awareness and training programs. Cooperation is also maintained with the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking to implement the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking Crimes.
He stated that this cooperation extends to international and regional organizations, such as the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the GCC Police Force, the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, Europol, and a number of non-governmental organizations, with the goal of exchanging information and expertise, cooperating in investigations, pursuing criminal networks, and enhancing the implementation of international conventions related to victim protection.
He added that whenever a human trafficking crime is suspected, it is handled according to professional procedures that ensure victim protection and safeguard their rights. This is achieved by identifying the individuals involved, gathering evidence, and taking necessary measures to provide protection and care—including medical and psychological care, legal assistance, maintaining data confidentiality, and providing safe shelter in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development. He pointed out that the Law on Combating Human Trafficking issued by Royal Decree No. 78/2025 includes deterrent penalties, consisting of imprisonment for 3 to 10 years and a fine of not less than RO 5,000 and not exceeding RO 100,000 for perpetrators of human trafficking crimes. Penalties are increased to imprisonment for 7 to 15 years if aggravating circumstances are present, such as targeting children, commission by an organized criminal group, or involvement of a public official. Furthermore, the court may confiscate funds and tools used in the crime and suspend the operations of a corporate legal entity if its liability is established.
He noted that digital transformation and modern technologies play a significant role in supporting efforts to combat human trafficking by analyzing data and monitoring fake and suspicious job advertisements, contributing to early crime detection before occurrence. Additionally, artificial intelligence technologies facilitate communication with victims, particularly through real-time translation services.
He added that employers and manpower recruitment agencies are required to adhere to the regulations and controls governing worker recruitment and employment, refrain from practicing any form of exploitation, provide clear employment contracts in a language the worker understands, pay wages on time, comply with working hours and official leave, refrain from withholding passports or personal documents, provide housing and healthcare, and educate workers about their rights and grievance mechanisms, while reporting any cases suspected of being linked to human trafficking. He emphasized the necessity of using visas properly and not selling them due to the legal consequences involved.
He explained that workers violating the Labor Law and Foreigners’ Residence Law—especially female domestic workers—are the most vulnerable to human trafficking crimes, in addition to children who have been exploited in limited begging cases. The Royal Oman Police, in cooperation with the Public Prosecution and competent government authorities, is keen on regularizing their legal status, guaranteeing their rights, and providing them with the necessary support.
He stated that the Royal Oman Police accords great importance to community awareness as one of the most crucial preventive tools, organizing workshops and lectures, producing awareness materials, and conducting media interviews across radio, television, and social media platforms.
Brigadier Jamal Habib Al Quraishi, Director General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations at the Royal Oman Police, called on members of the community to contribute to combating this crime by reporting suspected cases through official channels, refraining from dealing with unlicensed brokers or recruitment offices, verifying job offers before accepting them, respecting workers’ rights, spreading awareness about the dangers of human trafficking and ways to prevent it, directing victims to competent authorities, and cooperating with security agencies during investigations, thereby contributing to protecting society and promoting human dignity.
The celebration of this day serves as an occasion to renew the international commitment to combating human trafficking, raise awareness of its various forms, and emphasize the importance of combining national and international efforts to curb it, protect groups most vulnerable to exploitation, and ensure the provision of necessary protection and care for victims.
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