SOUTH AFRICA: How Heavy is Human Trafficking?

Monday, September 8, 2008
Author: 
IRIN
Africa
Southern Africa

The IOM contends that global human trafficking is worth between US$7 billion and $12 billion dollars annually, making it the third most lucrative criminal activity after the narcotics and weapons trades, although "in contrast to these other criminal activities, however, the penalties for human trafficking in most countries are much less severe, or non-existent."