Human trafficking is a global problem in countries of the first, second and third world. A considerable portion of this illicit traffic takes place through international airports, despite the many stringent measures in place to prevent these activities. Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is no exception, with criminal elements in the region making many attempts to pass passengers bearing incomplete or fraudulent documents through its portals.
Sri Lanka’s National Carrier SriLankan Airlines has achieved considerable success in recent times in its concerted efforts to crack down on illegal travel through Colombo’s airport by passengers using forged or altered travel documents, often supplied by organized criminals running human trafficking rings.