The Embassy of Nepal in Pakistan has said many Nepalis have been trapped by brokers who lure them with lucrative jobs in European countries.

Issuing a statement yesterday, the mission called it “a sort of human trafficking and looting” as brokers sent people through land routes of troubled areas of Iran, Iraq and Turkey to reach Europe rather than through direct flights. It also urged all to be cautious about the motive of agents.

Recently, nine Nepalis who were promised lucrative jobs in Europe were cheated, looted and left in the lurch in Turkey by their foreign agents. Now, they are languishing in a Turkish jail. They were heading for Europe using the land routes of Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

“Our Embassy is trying hard to ensure their early release as we have already approached Turkish officials regarding their innocence,” said Bharat Ray Paudyal, Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan, over phone.

The Embassy has requested all not travel to unspecified destinations without completing due process.”Illegal travel to Europe via Iran and Turkey through land route is not only difficult, it is also challenging,” read the statement.

Ambassador Paudyal said even Nepalis working in Gulf countries were lured by agents. According to him, the trend has increased in recent months making rescue efforts harder.

Published on: 6 June 2013 | The Himalayan Times