For Sirle Blumberg, specialist at ASBL Living for Tomorrow involved in helping victims of human trafficking, the recent arrest in Peru of two young Estonian ladies carrying drugs is no surprise, as offers for such jobs are abundant in our country.
Specialist: offers to carry drugs abound
11th October 2013, 16:16
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«The case seems quite classical and typical; I might add it did not really surprise me to much – for Estonians to get caught like this, someplace. I think offers of this sort, to girls in Estonia, actually abound,» said Ms Blumberg.
According to her, the initial job offer leading to drug carriage of human trafficking is usually made in Estonia, be it over Internet or at a night club. Thereafter, the offer is made to pay for plane tickets and do other favours.
«Why don’t people think in such situations: why should anybody pay me for anything, what will I have to do in return? Probably, it is psychologically impacting people, using their vulnerability,» thinks Ms Blumberg.
She underlined the joblessness in Estonia and elsewhere in Europe, bringing about unusual steps by people in hopes of easy earnings, young people being interested in the good life and quick gain.
According to Ms Blumberg, the girls may not have known what they were getting into, they may have been affected. «Simple methods to affect may do – manipulation, threats – so people find themselves in forced situations and do things out of fear,» said she.
The expert said it was typical in human trafficking that job offers include big sums, with no special skills required from candidates. «Every trafficker or exploiter well knows which target groups are the best to work with, who are the most vulnerable and easily manipulated. They are very skilled at finding their victims. I am absolutely convinced that the people involved in this sphere are knowledgeable in how to find the contingent easy to affect,» underlined Ms Blumberg.
Ms Blumberg said there have been no phone calls regarding the drug mule issue to human trafficking lifeline provided by Living for Tomorrow. «But this case may lead to such calls, no doubt,» said she.
Last week, young Estonian ladies were arrested in Peru with six kilograms of cocaine in their hand luggage, attempting to board a plane.