A trafficking survivor has advised how he has been “overwhelmed” by pleas for assist from different victims.
Abdul Mkith, 29, was compelled to work as a drug mule when he was delivered to the UK from Bangladesh when he was simply 10.
He ended up smuggling narcotics from the mainland to the Western Isles earlier than being rescued by police in Ullapool, in Wester Ross, two years later.
Now working offshore, Abdul advised how about 20 victims of human trafficking contacted him final yr searching for assist after he put his cellphone quantity on-line.
He mentioned he just lately heard from 4 males who're enslaved on a fishing boat in Scotland and from a number of ladies who're being sexually exploited.
Wick-based Abdul, who campaigns towards trendy slavery, mentioned: “It’s fairly onerous for individuals to come back ahead as a result of they're scared.
"They suppose unhealthy issues are going to occur. Once they see somebody preventing for consciousness of contemporary slavery, they need me to assist them to get out of their state of affairs.
“I had a cellphone name from a 29-year-old girl who seemed like she is from the Philippines.
“A Scottish man married her and promised her every thing. He introduced her over right here, took her passport away after which was utilizing her as a intercourse slave.
“One other girl advised me she was 22 and had come to Scotland on a scholar visa somebody had obtained for her.
“That particular person took her to a spot round Glasgow, which is a nail bar by day and a brothel by evening. She was made to work there and her visa ran out. She has no cash and doesn't know what to do.
“It may be overwhelming but when I can save one particular person’s life, I’ll be comfortable.”
Victims discovered about Abdul after he promoted his ebook – The Locket And A 5 Taka Observe – on YouTube and revealed his contact particulars.
The ebook reveals how his household agreed to ship him to dwell within the UK with household mates as a result of they thought he can be secure from crime gang bosses who threatened his dad.
However he was offered into slavery when he arrived in London and later saved throughout a drug raid. His foster mother and father helped him monitor down his mother and father, who he thought had been lifeless.
Dr Alister Bull, of anti-slavery charity known as Hope for Justice, mentioned the general public mustn't deal with trafficking on their very own.
He added: “The necessary message we have to get out is that there are key methods to answer trendy slavery.
"If there may be rapid hazard, contact 999. We don’t need individuals to be placing themselves in peril.”
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