The National Bureau of Investigation-Internal Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID) on Monday reported the arrest of a man at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for alleged human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

NBI identified the suspect as Abdullah Taher Asnawi who was intercepted at NAIA Terminal 1 on Saturday, 11 October together with a 20-year-old woman bound for Saudi Arabia. According to NBI, both were referred for further assessment after appearing in the airport's active offloading list.

Investigation showed that Asnawi recruited the woman despite not meeting the minimum age requirement for employment in Saudi Arabia. He also allegedly advised her to travel using an Umrah visa, a visa used solely for religious purposes to pass through the restriction.

The two were initially cleared for departure by an immigration officer identified as John Rey Fadrogani. NBI said Fadrogani, who remains at large, has been recommended for prosecution for facilitating the travel despite missing documents.

The Department of Migrant Workers confirmed that Asnawi is not an authorized person to facilitate the recruitment of workers.

He was charged before the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Perons Act and the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.

Asnawi is currently detained at the NBI Detention Center in Muntinlupa.