Mozambique police arrest 7 suspected human traffickers trying to smuggle women to South Africa

Mozambique: 7 suspected human traffickers arrested

MAPUTO, Mozambique — Mozambican police say they have arrested seven people suspected of trafficking women to neighboring South Africa to work as prostitutes.

Police spokeswoman Silvia Mahumane said Friday the men were arrested last week through a police sting operation. Mahumane said the women were on sale for about $670 each. She says they are often promised hotel jobs in South Africa, then beaten and raped into submission.

The sting was a collaboration between police and South Africa’s City Press newspaper.

Police say the trafficking syndicate has 15 Mozambicans and several Chinese citizens. Two suspects said they were also trafficking Chinese women to South Africa.

Save the Children says 1,000 women are trafficked into South Africa each year.