Two individuals accused of human trafficking have been arrested in Azerbaijan following operations conducted by law enforcement agencies. Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has uncovered a sophisticated network involved in the exploitation of women through digital platforms and international trafficking routes.
According to the Main Department for Combating Human Trafficking at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the suspects, identified by the initials E.Q. (28) and X.H. (27), were detained as part of targeted measures. E.Q. is accused of deceiving Azerbaijani women with false job offers and transporting them to the Republic of Turkiye. Once abroad, the victims' passports were seized, and they were subjected to sexual exploitation through threats and coercion. The second suspect, X.H., allegedly collaborated with foreign nationals to lure women into prostitution via the "escortaze.com" website and a specific Telegram channel. Investigations revealed that X.H. blackmailed victims with the threat of releasing compromising photos and transferred criminal proceeds to a transnational criminal group abroad using cryptocurrency.
Based on the evidence collected, both E.Q. and X.H. have been brought into the investigation as accused persons. By court order, a preventive measure of detention for a period of four months has been selected for both individuals. The Ministry of Internal Affairs urged citizens who may have fallen victim to such crimes to contact the Main Department for Combating Human Trafficking or the "152" hotline, noting that full confidentiality is guaranteed for all informants.
Human trafficking remains a global challenge, and Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its legal framework and international cooperation to combat transnational organized crime. The use of modern technologies, such as encrypted messaging apps and digital assets, has become an increasing focus for the Ministry of Internal Affairs in its efforts to dismantle exploitation networks and protect vulnerable individuals from organized criminal syndicates operating across borders.
