In a significant crackdown on human trafficking and forced cybercrime, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in collaboration with local police forces, arrested five individuals following extensive searches across six states and union territories. This joint operation, conducted on Monday, targeted an organised trafficking syndicate exploiting Indian youths by coercing them into cybercriminal activities abroad.
The arrested individuals are identified as Manish Hingu from Vadodara, Pahlad Singh from Gopalganj, Nabialam Ray from Southwest Delhi, Balwant Kataria from Gurugram, and Sartaj Singh from Chandigarh. The coordinated raids spanned 15 locations in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh.
During these operations, authorities seized various incriminating materials, including documents, digital devices, handwritten registers, multiple passports, and fraudulent overseas employment letters. These items are believed to be linked to the syndicate’s activities. As a result of the investigations, eight new FIRs have been filed by state and union territory police forces.
The NIA’s investigation uncovered a sophisticated trafficking network luring Indian youths with false promises of legitimate employment abroad. These youths were subsequently trafficked to locations such as Laos, the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ), and Cambodia, where they were forced to work in fake call centres. The syndicate, primarily operated by foreign nationals, coerced these individuals into engaging in illegal online activities, including credit card fraud, cryptocurrency investment scams, and honey trapping schemes.
Further inquiries revealed that the arrested suspects were coordinating with traffickers from across international borders. They facilitated the illegal movement of Indian youths from Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam into the Laos SEZ. These operations were conducted under the direction of foreign-based agents belonging to well-organised syndicates. These syndicates had established networks in multiple Indian states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana, as well as in countries such as the UAE, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.
The NIA took over the investigation from Mumbai Police on May 13, 2024, after discovering that the human trafficking syndicate’s operations extended far beyond Mumbai. The network was found to have connections with facilitators and traffickers across India and international borders.
NIA’s ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the entire network and bring all perpetrators to justice. The agency is also working to identify and rescue other victims who may have been trafficked under similar pretenses.
This crackdown marks a significant step in combating human trafficking and forced cybercrime, reflecting the NIA’s and local law enforcement’s commitment to addressing these serious offenses and protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation. Further developments in this investigation are anticipated as authorities continue their efforts to trace and apprehend all involved in this extensive criminal network.