“Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.”
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) said in a briefing at Interpol’s Singapore office that human trafficking crimes are exploding in Southeast Asia, and the annual earnings of criminal organizations are about $3 trillion (about 4,045 trillion won).
Interpol Secretary-General Jurgen Stock said on the 28th (local time) that some international criminal organizations’ annual income amounts to $50 billion (about 67 trillion won), with 2-3 trillion dollars of illegal funds moving through the international financial system every year. This can be compared to the $3.1 trillion French economy according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Secretary-General Stock explained that more than 40% of organized crime revenues are drug-related, and human trafficking and arms and stolen goods transactions are also major sources of income. “As activities utilising online anonymity and the emergence of new business models are rapidly increasing in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, these criminal organizations are operating on a scale unimaginable 10 years ago,” he said.
It is estimated that the number of victims of human trafficking due to cyber fraud crimes that began in Southeast Asia reaches millions. In Asia alone, there have been more than 3,500 arrests in 34 countries since 2021, and more than $300 million in illegal funds have been seized.
Victims across Asia are mainly subjected to employment fraud and are handed over to human trafficking organizations. They suffer from forced labour, arbitrary detainment, unfair treatment, or torture, and most often do not have the help of local authorities.
According to a United Nations report, more than 100,000 people are suffering from forced labour by criminal companies in Myanmar and Cambodia. Recently, more than 800 people have been rescued from online fraud centres in the Philippines. These fraudulent crimes are becoming more sophisticated by using artificial intelligence technology. (Source: Christian Daily, CNN Comprehensive)
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. (Psalms 10:2,12,15)
God, raise Your hand and discipline Asian criminal organizations that are doing evil following greed and taking enormous unjust gains from sinful acts. Pray that they would realize though they may deceive men, they cannot avoid the judgement of God who does not let go of all evil then come to Jesus Christ, who saved them by his death on the cross. Pray for Your grace to souls who are suffering from fraud and human trafficking so that they may praise the name of the Lord who does not forget them and bring complete righteousness.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
