Brazilian police have uncovered a trafficking network involving Bangladeshis who were smuggled into the South American country with promises of good wages but ended up doing slave labour.
About 80 Bangladeshis working in slavery-like conditions were discovered in eight homes on the outskirts of the Brazilian capital, Police Commissioner Dennis Cali said yesterday, according to state news agency Agencia Brasil.
No arrests have been made but four suspected Bangladeshi smugglers have been identified, he said.
The gang consisted of Bangladeshis who lured their countrymen with false promises of salaries of USD 1,000 to USD 1,500, and charged up to USD 10,000 for smuggling them into Brazil, according to a federal police statement.
The police operation -- dubbed "Operation Freedom" -- consisted of 60 officers and identified illegal entry points along Brazil's borders with Guyana, Bolivia and Peru.
Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest nations. Last month, it was hit by one of the world's worst industrial disasters after a nine-story garment factory complex collapsed outside its capital, killing at least 1,127 people.
