PANAJI
Even as Goa continues to battle human trafficking in its many forms – from commercial sexual exploitation to the trafficking of vulnerable children – the State's specialised Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), established to spearhead rescue operations and investigations, have largely faded into the background.
Their limited field presence has increasingly forced NGOs and other agencies to depend on the Crime Branch (CB) and local police stations to carry out interventions.
The contrast is stark on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed globally on July 30 to draw attention to one of the world's fastest-growing forms of organised crime. While the State government continues to project a dedicated anti-trafficking framework, those working on the ground told The Goan that the specialised unit, particularly in North Goa, is rarely seen leading rescue operations.
Official sources said the North Goa AHTU has not registered a single trafficking case in the past four years. In contrast, the South Goa unit has remained comparatively active, carrying out surprise inspections, rescue operations and investigations.
“We have dedicated teams, but whenever there is information about trafficking or sexual exploitation in North Goa, we often seek the assistance of the CB or the local police to conduct raids,” a source involved in rescue efforts said.
The official slammed the fact that the specialised unit should ideally be leading these operations given that CB and police stations already have several competing responsibilities of law and order, and criminal investigations.
“Moreover, the North Goa AHTU, headquartered in Panaji, purportedly has adequate personnel, particularly at the constabulary level. Some of them were recently transferred too... At the same time, the Panaji Police Station and other PS are grappling with an acute manpower shortage,” the source added.
The imbalance was evident only weeks ago. On July 2, it was the CB – not the AHTU –that conducted an anti-human trafficking raid near a resort in Calangute, arresting a 33-year-old Telangana native who was allegedly delivering a woman to a customer. The woman was rescued.
While the inactivity of the AHTUs has drawn concern, organisations working on the ground have stated it reflects a larger challenge. Human trafficking in Goa has evolved beyond conventional brothel raids, spanning organised sexual exploitation, domestic labour and fraudulent overseas recruitment. They demand a far more coordinated response.
ARZ Director Arun Pandey said there has been a marked decline in the trafficking of children from other States for exploitation, at least as per the age-related document. However, he cautioned that organised sexual exploitation involving women brought from outside Goa continues to persist.
“Sex trafficking cannot operate without local support systems. Authorities must tighten enforcement, and landlords renting out premises should remain vigilant because the law also holds them liable if such offences take place on their property,” he said.
Women's and child rights activist Andrea Pereira said trafficking for domestic work remains an overlooked concern. “There are children, and possibly adults too, being brought to Goa to work as domestic helpers. Labour laws require them to be registered, but many are not because they lack proper documents. There is every possibility that they are trafficked. Verification by both the police and the Labour Department is essential,” she said.
Social activist Roland Martins highlighted another emerging form of trafficking linked to fraudulent overseas employment. “Many young people fall prey to unregistered recruitment agencies that lure them with promises of jobs abroad. They collect hefty sums of money, and in many cases the victims either end up stranded overseas or lose their savings without ever receiving the jobs they were promised,” he said.
