Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, has resigned as an MP amid accusations of recruiting 17 South African men to fight for Russia in Ukraine under false pretenses. The men were allegedly told they would be training as bodyguards for Zuma’s MK party. While cooperating with a police investigation, Zuma-Sambudla claimed she was a victim of deception, denying knowledge of combat, and alleging that her involvement was for a legitimate training course. South African authorities are investigating the situation, with reports indicating the men were lured to join mercenary forces.
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Kelly Garrett Ivey, a 43-year-old Georgia man, received a life sentence with 50 years to serve after pleading guilty to multiple child sex crimes in Monroe and Jasper counties. Ivey’s charges included trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, cruelty to children, and attempted rape. The investigation revealed Ivey used a teenage girl’s social media to solicit child molesters, even attempting to sell her personal information on the dark web for kidnapping and sexual assault. The case came to light in 2023, prompting the FBI’s intervention and highlighting the importance of vigilance in protecting children.
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Two women who claim to be victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation are urging Congress to release all files related to the case. They, along with newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva, are working to put pressure on the Justice Department to release the files, despite pushback from some political figures. The women emphasize that this issue transcends political affiliations, and focus on the crime of human trafficking, as a key factor in having the files released. They stated that the released emails are “just the tip of the iceberg” regarding the Epstein investigation.
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Five individuals have been sentenced to death in China for their involvement in a criminal gang operating fraudulent activities in Myanmar’s Kokang region. The court found that these criminals were responsible for the deaths and injuries of multiple Chinese nationals, operating from 41 compounds. The gang’s crimes included telecom fraud, operating gambling dens, homicide, and trafficking. This crackdown follows increased cooperation between China and Southeast Asian nations to dismantle scam compounds, which the UN estimates are part of a global, multi-billion dollar illicit industry with hundreds of thousands of workers.
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A Chinese court has sentenced five top members of the Bai family, a notorious Myanmar mafia, to death for their involvement in large-scale scam operations. The 21 convicted individuals were found guilty of fraud, homicide, and other crimes related to the trafficking and abuse of workers, many of whom were Chinese, within their criminal compounds. These activities, centered in Laukkaing and involving over 29 billion Chinese yuan, also resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. This harsh sentencing is part of China’s broader crackdown on scam networks in Southeast Asia, aimed at sending a clear message to other criminal syndicates.
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A group of ten migrants deported from the United States have arrived in Eswatini, an African nation, as part of a controversial third-country deportation program. These individuals are the latest additions to a group of over forty deportees sent to Africa since July. The deportees, including Vietnamese nationals held in Louisiana, are currently held in a correctional facility, while four previous deportees remain in a maximum-security prison without charge. Rights groups have expressed concern over the program and the potential lack of due process for migrants in these countries, especially considering the secretive agreements between the U.S. and the African nations.
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The US Department of State released the 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, detailing human trafficking conditions in the US and over 185 countries, after delays and congressional pressure. The report, published without the customary introduction from the Secretary of State, includes the designation of Cambodia as a “state sponsor” of trafficking. The document also criticizes countries like Brazil, South Africa, and Israel, while omitting a section on LGBTQ+ victims that was terminated. This quiet release coincides with broader concerns about the Trump administration’s commitment to anti-trafficking efforts and related funding.
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Following a BBC investigation, the alleged head of a sex-trade ring operating in Dubai, Charles “Abbey” Mwesigwa, has been detained in the United Arab Emirates. The investigation revealed Mwesigwa’s involvement in providing women for sex parties and exploiting vulnerable women, who were lured to Dubai with false promises. The BBC found that a Dubai law firm confirmed Mwesigwa’s custody, and Interpol Uganda had issued a red notice for his extradition. The Ugandan embassy stated that the UAE authorities were investigating human trafficking, with the BBC’s investigation featuring testimonies from exploited Ugandan women.
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Authorities in Kenya have disrupted a human trafficking ring, rescuing over 20 Kenyans who were lured with false job offers in Russia, but were intended to be sent to fight in Ukraine. Police raided an apartment where 22 individuals were discovered awaiting processing, seizing recruitment materials and travel documents, and have arrested a suspect accused of coordinating the victims’ travel. The victims reported signing contracts and paying deposits for visas and other logistics, with some returning home injured or traumatized, while others never make it back. This operation comes amid growing concerns over Kenyans being trafficked abroad with similar false promises, and follows reports of Kenyan nationals held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
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A Guardian investigation reveals the Trump administration has significantly weakened efforts to combat human trafficking across multiple federal agencies, potentially undermining decades of progress. Key initiatives at the State Department, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security have been cut back, with personnel shifted, grants delayed or canceled, and an annual report on trafficking’s global trends stalled. These actions, coupled with a focus on deporting immigrants, are viewed by anti-trafficking advocates as a retreat that will allow traffickers to operate with greater impunity. The Trump administration has defended its actions, citing border security efforts as a key strategy against human trafficking, but critics argue that the administration’s moves have a negative impact on victims and survivors.
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John Q. Hosedrinker