MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) rescued two male passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on January 2 after they were almost trafficked to work illegally in Russia.

The passengers, aged 48 and 52, were intercepted while bound for Hong Kong via a Cathay Pacific flight. They initially claimed they were traveling for tourism, but officers found inconsistencies in their statements during inspection.

The BI received prior intelligence from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) regarding a large group of individuals allegedly trafficked for employment in Russia. During secondary inspection, the passengers admitted they had been recruited to work in Russia and were waiting for tickets and visas in Hong Kong.

They said they were recruited by an individual on social media who assured them that their documents were legal and promised a monthly salary of 100,000 to 150,000 pesos.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned the public against such schemes, saying that deception at any stage of travel is a clear indicator of trafficking.

“It is never legal if you are instructed to pretend to be a tourist, hide your true destination, or wait for documents to be sent while already abroad,” Viado said. “These are clear red flags of trafficking and exploitation.”

The BI emphasized that legitimate overseas employment requires proper documentation and processing through authorized government channels. The agency continues to coordinate with IACAT and other law enforcement bodies to rescue potential victims and prevent human trafficking.

The rescued passengers were referred to IACAT for assistance and for filing cases against their recruiters.