Record 28 Japanese Human Trafficking Victims Rescued in 2017

May 18, 2018

Tokyo- The number of Japanese people who were rescued from human trafficking in Japan hit a record 28 in 2017, the government said Friday.

A total of 46 victims were taken into protective custody in the country last year, according to an annual report on human trafficking adopted at a meeting on measures against such crimes held at the prime minister's office.

"Japanese victims are increasing," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told the meeting, noting that most of the cases took advantage of the immaturity of young people.

"I want you to ask for stronger measures to root out human trafficking," Suga, the meeting's chair, said.

Participants of the meeting reaffirmed steady implementation of an action plan drawn up in 2014 to fight the crimes against humanity ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Jiji Press