Two Fijian sisters have now come under the spotlight for their alleged involvement of trafficking 17 Fijian citizens in New Zealand in 2014.

This comes after a successful joint operation between the Fiji Police Force, NZ Police and the NZ immigration led to the arrest of a 31-year-old woman of Nasole, Nasinu.

An arrest warrant has also been issued for her sister residing in Australia for their alleged involvement in a human trafficking case.

Police Spokesperson Ana Naisoro says the two are alleged to have facilitated the travel of 17 Fijian citizens who were exploited through slavery and became victims of Human Trafficking in Auckland between April to August.

The two had been operating a travel agent business from Nina Street, Suva and are alleged to have placed an advertisement in one of the dailies about employment opportunities in New Zealand.

Naisoro adds these victims were allegedly advised to provide necessary documents to apply for NZ visa and were promised a work visa or tourist visa with work permit.

They also obtained money from the victims to process their visa application.

These victims were allegedly exploited in NZ as the suspects organized and facilitated the exit of these victims from Fiji, and in facilitating the exit was reckless as to whether the said victims will be exploited.

The victims were allegedly exploited through forced labour to work in unfavorable weather conditions, less or no wages, living (accommodation) conditions as male and female victims had to share one room together.

It’s alleged the suspects who were notified of these conditions didn’t take any action and continued to send more victims to NZ.

Both suspects had remitted and received more than $83,000 to and from NZ from an accomplice Faroz Ali who was convicted in NZ for human trafficking offences.

He was imprisoned for nine years and six months.

Investigations continue.