Papua New Guinea Police Rescue 39 Indonesians in Human Trafficking Bust

Police in Papua New Guinea have busted what they believe to be a transnational human-trafficking syndicate involving almost 40 victims.

Detectives raided a three-bedroom property in the capital Port Moresby on Tuesday morning and found 39 men and women from Indonesia allegedly being held against their will.

Early investigations suggested the alleged victims were locked inside the house and forced to operate an online scam using computers in the living room, a police spokesperson told the ABC.

Police said the Indonesian nationals were recruited on social media and had been in Papua New Guinea for about a month as part of a "complex people-smuggling enterprise".

"They said they were not allowed to leave the house, they were all wired inside and just worked," the spokesperson said.

Police have detained four Chinese nationals allegedly involved in the operation.

Deputy Police Commissioner Donald Yamasombi said they were preparing to lay charges and more arrests were likely.

The Indonesian embassy in Papua New Guinea said it was supporting the alleged victims.

PNG Police Commissioner David Manning said human traffickers sought to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable people.

"Investigators are tracing the movements and connections of the alleged traffickers, including members of the network operating both within Papua New Guinea and overseas," he said.