MANILA, Philippines — Immigration officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 intercepted a 41-year-old Filipina suspected to be a victim of a mail-order-bride scheme, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

The woman, accompanied by a 52-year-old Moroccan man, was stopped late evening of June 29 as they attempted to transit through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia en route to Morocco. Both individuals’ identities were withheld in accordance with anti-trafficking laws.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the interception was part of the government’s intensified crackdown on human trafficking under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive.

“Upon separate questioning, both individuals appeared evasive and suspicious when asked about details of their travel,” Viado said, noting inconsistencies in their responses.

The pair presented a marriage certificate and claimed to be legally married. However, inconsistencies in the document raised red flags, prompting airport officers to refer it for verification.

A forensic examination by the BI’s anti-fraud section later confirmed that the marriage certificate was counterfeit. The duo was then turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation.

“We will not tolerate the use of fake or falsified documents being used in trafficking efforts,” Viado warned. “Individuals caught using fake documents shall face the harshest penalty of law.”