Behind promises of overseas internships lies a well-oiled system of exploitation: hundreds of young African women are believed to have been recruited under false pretenses to work in a military drone factory in Russia.

The investigation opened by Interpol has brought to light a vast human trafficking network centered around the Alabuga industrial zone, exposing disturbing practices with international ramifications.

A new scandal is shaking the global stage: Interpol has launched an investigation into serious allegations of human trafficking implicating Russia. At the center of the case is the Alabuga plant, located in the Republic of Tatarstan, which specializes in producing military drones used in operations against Ukraine.

According to a Bloomberg investigation, a recruitment program called “Alabuga Start” was allegedly created to lure young women from impoverished countries—particularly in Africa—under the false promise of paid internships. The scandal broke in Botswana after suspicious job ads were detected circulating on social media. The local organizer of these recruitment sessions has been questioned by police, as confirmed by Chief Inspector Celebatso Mokgosi.

Since its launch in 2022, the program is said to have facilitated the transfer of around 350 women to Russian facilities. Forecasts for 2025 point to as many as 8,500 new recruits from 77 countries, primarily in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Affected countries reportedly include Mozambique, Rwanda, Mali, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Colombia, and Sri Lanka.

The young women, often from underprivileged backgrounds, were offered internships in sectors such as hospitality or food service. But upon arrival in Russia, they were assigned to work on Iranian-designed attack drones used in the Ukrainian conflict.

*Exploitation, manipulation, and global alert*

The conditions under which these young women were made to work raise serious suspicions of human trafficking and economic exploitation. Several human rights organizations describe a sophisticated system that exploits social vulnerability, misinformation, and the lack of oversight from countries of origin.

“This is a clear case of exploitation for military purposes,” warned legal experts in international humanitarian law. The involvement of civilians in industrial processes tied to armed conflict makes the allegations even more serious.

Russia—already facing global criticism over its invasion of Ukraine—is once again under scrutiny. Sources close to Interpol indicate that several African countries have been involved in the investigation, with the goal of protecting their citizens and putting an end to these fraudulent recruitment campaigns.

Beyond Russian responsibility, attention is turning to the role of local intermediaries—recruitment agents, influencers, training institutions—whose participation has been central. The transnational nature of the network suggests a well-structured organization with multiple channels in the countries of origin, complicating traceability.

*Toward international mobilization?*

This case reignites debate over the responsibility of African states in the face of emerging high-risk migration trends. Several NGOs are calling for targeted sanctions against the organizations involved, as well as the establishment of secure repatriation mechanisms for affected women.
The first results of Interpol’s investigation are expected in the coming months. They could mark a turning point in how international migration flows—especially those disguised as educational or professional opportunities—are understood and managed.
Beyond the numbers, this scandal highlights a moral crisis: one in which vulnerability becomes a resource to be exploited, and the hope for a better future is all too often turned into a tragic trap.

By: Alexandre DOVON