Madagascar is strengthening its efforts to combat human trafficking as the country has become a destination for scamming operations. During Tuesday’s Council of Ministers meeting, two decrees were adopted to establish two distinct yet linked task forces: one to combat human trafficking and the other to address the growth of scamming networks. These structures aim to bolster the island’s response to transnational criminal networks while awaiting the passage of a new anti-trafficking law.
According to the National Bureau for the Fight Against Human Trafficking (BNLTEH), the country’s openness and tourism development have facilitated the establishment of these criminal networks. They recruit victims through fake job offers promising legitimate professional opportunities, only to force them into online scamming operations upon arrival. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) classifies this as human trafficking for the purpose of forced criminality, as victims are deprived of their freedom.
In Madagascar, victims of these practices are not yet legally recognized as such. Eric Ramahandrisoa, Executive Secretary of the BNLTEH, noted that when a scamming network was dismantled in June and over 700 irregular foreign nationals were arrested, only three or four individuals were charged with human trafficking. The others were prosecuted for fraud, failing to be recognized as victims of forced criminality.
The current law covers sexual exploitation, forced labor, servitude, begging, and organ trafficking, but does not address individuals forced to commit crimes. A proposed revision, currently awaiting review by the National Assembly, aims to close this loophole by expanding the definition of human trafficking to include exploitation for criminal activities. This will better protect victims exploited in scamming networks.
Scamming issues will be the focus of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, themed ‘Traps Behind the Scam,’ which will highlight the risks of fake job offers and the need for improved cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-27 10:08:38 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/deux-task-forces-creees-face-a-limplantation-des-reseaux-de-scamming-a-madagascar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=deux-task-forces-creees-face-a-limplantation-des-reseaux-de-scamming-a-madagascar