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Sablan considers vice clampdown
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Posted on Apr 01 1999
Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan yesterday said the administration will look into allegations that Asian women, mostly Chinese and Filipinos, are being smuggled into the Northern Marianas and sold as prostitutes to brothels.
According to Sablan, the allegations were discussed with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and Labor and Immigration Secretary Mark Zachares in a meeting Tuesday that tackled a recent report by Washington Post regarding the growing cases of trafficking of women and children for sex trade.
The Post says every year an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 women, including Russians and Latvians, are brought illegally to the United States and forced to work in prostitution houses.
“We are actively looking into the matter…We do not want the perpetuation of the problem here,” Sablan said in an interview. “We are very much concerned about the report.”
There are no evidences yet presented to the Commonwealth to indicate that such illegal practice exists here, according to Sablan.
Sablan prodded government agencies to strengthen cooperation and efforts in clamping down on the proliferation of prostitution on the islands.
Last year the island government put in place measures to curb the growing flesh trade which has worried businessmen and local officials because of its adverse impact on the tourism industry. (CBM)
