Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has warned that human traffickers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence,
social media and fake employment opportunities to lure unsuspecting people into exploitation,
saying digital technology has transformed the way criminal networks recruit victims. 
In his message commemorating the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, commemorated on Thursday under the global theme “Trapped Behind the Scam,”
Dlamini said traffickers are becoming more sophisticated by exploiting technology and online platforms to deceive people searching for opportunities.
He said criminal syndicates are using fake job offers, fraudulent scholarships, deceptive recruitment agencies and online relationships to target innocent people before exploiting them through forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse.
The Prime Minister said traffickers are now also using artificial intelligence, voice-cloning technology and other digital tools to manipulate victims, making it increasingly difficult for people to distinguish legitimate opportunities from criminal schemes.
Dlamini expressed particular concern over the growing number of young people who are promised lucrative employment opportunities abroad only to discover that they have been trafficked and forced into criminal activities or other forms of exploitation.
He urged emaSwati to exercise caution before accepting employment opportunities outside the country and to verify recruitment agencies and job offers through the relevant authorities before travelling.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to preventing trafficking in persons, protecting victims, prosecuting offenders and strengthening partnerships at both national and international levels.
He said Government would continue working through existing laws, national programmes and collaboration with regional and international partners to strengthen Eswatini’s response to human trafficking and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
Dlamini’s message comes amid growing global concern over the use of emerging technologies by organised criminal networks to facilitate human trafficking, with international agencies warning that online scams are increasingly becoming a gateway to modern slavery and forced criminality.
