New Caledonia/Iraq

Twelve people arrested in alleged human-trafficking scheme

Article published on the 2008-09-24 Latest update 2008-09-24 13:53 TU

New Caledonia's emblem
(Credit: Wikipedia)

Police in the French South Pacific department of New Caledonia arrested 12 people from the Middle East traveling on forged passports The detainees are suspected of being a part of a larger human-trafficking scheme. The 11 Iraqis and one Palestinian are between the ages of 24 and 30, and include three women. Four were detained at Nouméa-La Tontouta international airport from a flight arriving from Athens via Tokyo on Monday. The four were in possession of forged Danish and Irish stolen passports. A fifth person who was waiting for the four to come through customs was also arrested.

The other eight people arrested had already entered New Caledonia fraudulently and were caught later as part of a larger investigation, according to police.

Earlier passport controls in Athens, Paris and Tokyo did not detect the forged passports. The police maintain that the passport-reading machines did not react because the original passports did not come from people who were on a wanted list.

Australian police also co-operated in the investigation. New Caledonia is working in conjunction with French authorities and Interpol to determine whether the 12 detained have any connection with terrorist organisations.