Immigration authorities have intercepted and rescued a Filipina passenger at the airport who was allegedly being trafficked for an illegal surrogacy scheme abroad, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Saturday.

The 31-year-old woman was stopped at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on March 30 before boarding a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Hong Kong.

She initially claimed she was a returning overseas Filipino worker set to work as a domestic helper.

However, officers from the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) uncovered inconsistencies in her travel plans.

Records showed she was scheduled to travel from Hong Kong to Beijing, China, and eventually to Tbilisi, Georgia, where she was to work as a gestational surrogate.

During questioning, the woman admitted she had been recruited through Facebook Messenger by a female agent who promised her payment of P490,000 after giving birth.

Authorities said documents presented by the passenger included a letter from a surrogacy facility in Georgia, indicating she was set to undergo advanced in vitro fertilization procedures.

The BI said the case reflects a growing tactic among traffickers, who are now using illegal surrogacy arrangements to exploit vulnerable individuals seeking work abroad.

The rescued woman has been turned over to authorities for protection and further investigation, while efforts are underway to identify and hold accountable those behind the alleged trafficking operation.