Human trafficking again rears its ugly head at TIA

KATHMANDU, MAY 14: The trafficking of Nepali citizens to Gulf countries under the pretence of foreign travel has once again begun to proliferate at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in the capital. Despite previous security crackdowns, the recent findings reveal a resurgence of this illegal activity, now facilitated by a deepening collusion between the immigration officials and middlemen.

Illegal facilitation under visit visas

Although the security agencies have conducted repeated investigations into the crimes committed under the guise of visit visas, these efforts have proven strictly ineffective. Immigration officials have been found to be illicitly enabling the departure of both male and female passengers, primarily to Kuwait via the UAE.

Misuse of code words: 'L' for women, 'S' for men

A disturbing revelation from the ongoing police investigations is the use of coded language by airport staff to identify the targeted individuals. The code 'L' is used for women, and 'S' for men. These codes enable the traffickers to single out vulnerable travelers, who are then charged exorbitant fees—up to NPR 40,000 from women and NPR 20,000 from men.

Once trafficked, women are typically routed through the UAE to Kuwait, where they are forced into domestic servitude under exploitative conditions. According to the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau, 47 women who left Nepal on visit visas in recent months have yet to return.

Recurrence of collusion and corruption

The above-mentioned phenomenon is not an isolated one. In December 2023, a formal case was filed against nine individuals, including Immigration Officer Narabir Khadka, for issuing visit visas based on forged documents. The accused included Bimal Poudel, Tarabahadur Kunwar, Kushal Baral, Shailendra Dhakal, Bishnu Aryal, Bikash Dangol, Pitambar Rimal, and Sujan Fago.

Despite strong evidence of financial misconduct, some of the accused were acquitted and reinstated at the airport, raising concerns over institutional accountability.

Lack of a traveller tracking mechanism

The Department of Immigration currently maintains aggregate data on outbound travellers but lacks the capability to track individual returnees. According to Information Officer Tikaram Dhakal, in 2024 alone, 159,043 men and 115,356 women travelled abroad on visit or pilgrimage visas.

However, the department does not possess concrete data on how many have returned. “We have general statistics on returnees, but no system for tracking individuals,” Dhakal explained. This gap makes it difficult for the government to identify citizens who become stranded or exploited abroad.

Ineffectiveness of the six-point directive

In an effort to curb the misuse of visit visas, the Ministry of Home Affairs implemented a six-point directive in January 2024, mandating the submission of round-trip tickets and proof of currency exchange worth at least USD 500.

Nevertheless, the brokers and immigration officials continue to circumvent these rules by accepting one-way tickets and forged currency exchange documents. As one airport staff member candidly noted, “The rules exist only on paper. In practice, travel approval is granted through illicit arrangements.”

Removal of surveillance empowering trafficking networks

Previously, officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau were stationed at the airport to monitor travel documents and suspicious behaviour. However, these officers were recently withdrawn—allegedly at the behest of the airport chief—weakening oversight at a critical point of the departure.

The removal of such surveillance has only emboldened the brokers and complicit staff. Other security agencies deployed at the airport appear poorly coordinated, further helping the trafficking network thrive. Among the 128 immigration officers currently assigned to the airport, several are under suspicion of being involved in illegal arrangements.

Structural Weaknesses: Technological and Legal Gaps

Experts assert that the root causes of this ongoing problem lie in systemic and technological deficiencies. The trafficking operations are being aided and abetted by the glaring absence of an integrated digital immigration system, personnel evaluations, and an independent oversight mechanism, they bemoan. 

Unless urgent reforms are introduced to improve transparency and accountability within Nepal’s immigration system, trafficking under the pretext of visit visas is likely to escalate further, a concern increasingly echoed by analysts and human rights advocates.