Muscat – The Public Prosecution has cautioned that withholding or destroying a victim’s passport in order to traffick him/her is a criminal offence under Omani law.

In a statement issued this week, the authority stressed that such actions constitute a violation of Article 22 of the Law on Combating Human Trafficking, promulgated by Royal Decree No 78/2025. The offence is punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of RO300 or both.

The clarification follows the nationwide ‘Aman’ campaign launched in July 2025 by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking. The three-month awareness initiative aimed to deepen public understanding of human trafficking crimes, strengthen prevention mechanisms, support victims, and bolster cooperation at national and international levels.

The committee further emphasised the fact that if a human trafficking crime is committed by a legal entity, the person responsible for its management will face the same penalties if proven to have knowledge of the offence. The legal entity itself will also be held liable if the crime is committed in its name and for its benefit, and may be fined between RO10,000 and RO100,000.

Courts may additionally order the dissolution or suspension of the legal entity’s operations, in whole or in part, for up to one year. This provision applies equally to its branches.