The Criminal Investigation Service (SIK) of the National Police PNTL said four people were arrested last year in connection to human trafficking offences.
SIK Head Inspector Ludgerio Lay said two suspects were Timorese, while the other two were foreign nationals.
He said children were trafficked to work in prostitution.
“The traffickers recruit foreigners to work here on a tourist visa and then they employ the children for illegal activities,” said Lay.
He said some of the victims had now been sent to live with families, while others were staying at shelters to recover psychologically.
Member of Parliament MPEladioFaculto said the traffickers posed a serious threat to the children’s life and should be tried according to the law so that victims receive justice.
“If we let them go free it means that we encourage them to do more,” said Faculto.
He also urged the police to do more to prevent human trafficking spreading in the country.
Resident Maria Trindade called for the government through the Secretary of State for Socio-Economic Support of Women (SEM) to raise awareness about the issue among communities.
“We should know how to identify these people (traffickers) and the communities should know it [human trafficking] so they can keep away from it,” she said.
