The AIM SWAT Team in Cambodia has been hard at work with the local police to investigate potential instances of trafficking, arrest traffickers, and rescue survivors. In addition, AIM SWAT’s Legal Team has continued to advocate for justice on behalf of survivors and their families throughout their court proceedings.
Are you interested in learning more about the SWAT Team and how they work? Click here!
July 10th
At around 10pm on Monday, July 10th, AIM SWAT assisted local police in the raid of a brothel fronting as a massage parlor. The raid followed a short-term surveillance operation which appeared to confirm that minors were being sold for sex at this location.
During the operation, 1 minor and 2 adults were rescued! One suspect was detained. After searching the brothel and securing evidence, the business was shut down by local authorities.
During interviews with police, the manager confessed to profiting from the survivors having sex with customers at this location. They have been remanded to prison, having been charged with a trafficking-related offense. The rescued minor has since been transferred to AIM’s Restoration Home for aftercare, while both adults have been transferred to partner aftercare centers.
AIM’s Legal Team will provide free representation for each of the survivors for the duration of their court proceedings.
August 14th
12 SURVIVORS RESCUED in a 5 Brothel Raid!
At around 9pm on Monday, August 14th, AIM SWAT supported officers from the Phnom Penh Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and the Juvenile Protection Police in a raid of five brothels.
These brothels neighbored one another, fronting as coffee shops in central Phnom Penh. The multi-brothel raid followed a covert surveillance operation which appeared to confirm information that minors were being sold for sex at all five locations.
During the operation, 3 minors and 9 adults were rescued! 4 suspects were detained. Following the search for and seizure of evidence, all five brothels were officially closed by local authorities.
During interviews, three of the four detained suspects admitted to profiting from the survivors having sex with customers at these locations. All four have been sent to court to face appropriate charges. The three rescued minors are now receiving care at AIM’s Restoration Home; one rescued adult is safe at our Transitional Home and the others are receiving care from partner aftercare centers.
AIM’s Legal Team has offered free representation to all survivors, and will continue to do so for the duration of the court proceedings.
September 8th
At around 10:30pm on Friday, September 8th, AIM SWAT supported local law enforcement in the raids of four different brothels! The teams had performed an extensive surveillance operation of the four brothels, which were fronting as massage parlors in southern Phnom Penh. During the raids, 3 minors and 9 adults were rescued! 4 suspects were arrested.
All 4 suspects admitted to profiting from the selling of the rescued survivors for sex and were charged with sex trafficking-related offenses. As they await their trial in prison, AIM’s Legal Team prepares for the court cases to come, where they will provide free representation to all survivors and their families.
The 3 minors are now receiving care at AIM’s Restoration Home, while 4 of the rescued adults are safe at Rahab’s House Phnom Penh, our transitional home for adult survivors of trafficking. The remaining 5 survivors have been transferred to a partner aftercare center. We praise God for these rescues! Please join us in praying for each survivor’s healing and transformation journey.
September 12th
After a thorough investigation that confirmed minors were being sold for sex to customers, AIM SWAT supported local authorities in the raid of a karaoke club guesthouse. During the raid, 8 minors and 11 women were rescued! Two suspects were arrested and the location was officially closed down by the police.
All 8 minors were transferred to our restoration home where they will begin their healing journey. One of the adult survivors went to our transitional home for aftercare services, while the other ten were transferred to the local District Social Affairs Office.
During interviews, one of the two suspects (the owner) admitted to trafficking the rescued survivors. Both suspects have been charged and remanded to prison to await their trial. AIM’s Legal Team is offering free representation to all survivors throughout the duration of their legal cases.
Want to read more about AIM SWAT’s work? Check out our previous updates:
Rescues Made Possible By…
Thanks to our incredible partners at Life Outreach International and modern-day abolitionists like YOU, we get to rescue these women and children from the unimaginable. Together, we are ending the evil of human trafficking. One life at a time!
