Sudanese authorities rescue 21 hostages from human traffickers

Sudanese authorities rescued 21 hostages held by human traffickers in eastern Sudan on Thursday.

The official Sudanese news agency reported that a joint police force in the cities of Halfa and Kassala has rescued the hostages and arrested seven human traffickers.

According to the news agency, the hostages included ten men, eight women aged between 18 and 30, and three children.

The traffickers will be charged with human trafficking charges in the city of Halfa police in eastern Sudan.

Commander of the police joint force, Hassan Adam said the cooperation between the police force in Halfa and Kassala, enabled the completion of the task, noting that the police received confirmed information that the 21 hostages have been held for more than a month.

“There was good planning and full coordination between the joint forces to arrest the human traffickers” said police chief Abdullah al-Sayegh.

Al-Sayegh added that the joint force raided the site at 2:30 am (local time) on Thursday morning after receiving information.

Sometimes human traffickers keep illegal immigrants in exchange for a ransom which turns the crime from human smuggling to human trafficking.

Sudan is a source and transit point for illegal immigrants who mainly come from the Horn of Africa.