TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan airport police stopped a Taiwanese woman from flying to Cambodia in a potential case of human trafficking. 

Police said the woman, surnamed Shih (施) was likely the victim of a human-trafficking “honey trap,” per CNA. Honey trapping is where an attractive person is used to lure or manipulate a victim through developing a romantic or sexual relationship. 

Taiwan’s Aviation Police Bureau intercepted Shih on March 3 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. She was flying from Taipei to Phnom Penh to meet a man named A-hsing, whom she had met online.

Taoyuan Airport Services notified the Aviation Police Bureau after airport personnel raised concerns that Shih might be a scam victim. They noted that Shih had only booked a one-way ticket, and it was her first time leaving Taiwan. 

APB officers questioned Shih and used her phone to call A-hsing, who claimed to be her boyfriend. The man was unable to answer when asked about his identity and relationship with Shih. 

Officers managed to convince Shih not to board her flight to Cambodia, assessing she was a potential victim in a human trafficking scheme. According to reports, the man had developed an intimate relationship with Shih online, and he promised to cover her trip expenses and said she could explore jobs in Cambodia. 

The Aviation Police Bureau warned the public about human traffickers luring victims abroad through romantic relationships or high-paying jobs. It reported several similar cases in Cambodia.