Overview of Human Trafficking Scheme
Foday Musa's son (22) and daughter (18), along with five others, were recruited from their village in Faranah, Guinea, in February 2024. They were promised work abroad by agents who were human traffickers. The group was taken to Sierra Leone and held captive. Musa reported paying $25,000 to the traffickers in an attempt to secure their release.
The QNET Scam
A human trafficking scheme, commonly referred to as QNET, operates in West Africa. While QNET is a legitimate wellness and lifestyle company based in Hong Kong, criminal organizations use its name as a front for illegal activities.
- Recruitment Method: Traffickers promise work opportunities in countries like the US, Canada, Dubai, and Europe.
- Financial Demands: Recruits are asked to pay substantial sums for administrative costs.
- Captivity and Coercion: Victims are often trafficked to neighboring countries and told they can only travel abroad after recruiting others into the scheme.
- Company Response: QNET has initiated an "QNET Against Scams" campaign in the region and denies allegations of involvement in human trafficking.
Police Investigations and Rescue Efforts
Musa's case was handled by Interpol in Guinea, which requested assistance from its unit in Sierra Leone. In August, Musa traveled to Makeni, central Sierra Leone, to aid the search.
- Raid in Makeni: Musa accompanied police during a raid on a property in Makeni where a large number of young people were reportedly held. Bags and clothes indicated crowded living conditions, with 10-15 people per room.
- Victim Identification: The raid found individuals as young as 14, predominantly from Guinea. Musa's children were not present, but an individual reported seeing them at the location the previous week.
- Follow-Up: 19 individuals were repatriated to Guinea after screening.
- Scope of Operations: The Sierra Leonean police have conducted over 20 similar raids in the past year, resulting in the rescue of hundreds of human trafficking victims. These victims are often moved across borders, or trafficked within their own countries.
Victim Experiences
Aminata, a 23-year-old Sierra Leonean, recounted her experience after being recruited by individuals claiming to represent QNET in mid-2024.
- Financial Loss: Her family paid $1,000 of her college savings for her to join the scheme, believing it would lead to study and work in the US.
- Exploitation: Aminata stated that initial care stopped, forcing her to engage in commercial sexual exploitation to survive.
- Recruitment Coercion: She was instructed to recruit others into the scheme, using an international number and fake travel documents and photos to appear as if she was already abroad. She persuaded six friends and relatives to join.
- Escape: Aminata was held near Freetown for approximately a year. She escaped when she was no longer considered useful by the traffickers.
Challenges in Combating Trafficking
While police have arrested 12 suspected traffickers, successful prosecutions are infrequent due to under-resourced authorities.
- Conviction Rates: US State Department statistics indicate only four trafficking convictions in Sierra Leone between July 2022 and April 2025, despite the passage of an anti-trafficking act.
- Prevalence: Media reports across West Africa consistently highlight these scams, which target individuals desperate for foreign employment opportunities.
Outcome for Musa's Children
Musa returned to Guinea without his children in September. Interpol later confirmed the children's release.
- Daughter's Status: Musa's daughter returned to Guinea but has not returned to her village or contacted her father, possibly due to shame.
- Son's Status: The whereabouts of Musa's son remain unknown.