The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a major crackdown on an international human trafficking syndicate on Thursday, conducting extensive searches at 22 locations across six states.
The operation is part of an investigation into a network that trafficked Indian youth under the guise of lucrative overseas job offers.
The case, registered as RC-10/2024/NIA/DLI, includes charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including sections related to fraud, trafficking, and criminal conspiracy.
According to sources, the syndicate has international ties, with operations linked to countries such as Myanmar and Laos.
The traffickers allegedly lured victims, primarily from Bihar’s Gopalganj district, with promises of well-paying jobs abroad.
Upon arriving in foreign countries, the victims were reportedly held captive in fake call centres and forced to engage in cyber fraud activities, including cryptocurrency scams.
The authorities arrested Keshav Singh, the owner of MK Training Centre, earlier for his role in the trafficking ring.
The NIA investigation has revealed the syndicate’s involvement in trafficking Indian nationals under the false pretense of employment, only to coerce them into cybercrime operations.
Investigators have linked the trafficking network to cyber-scam centres in Myanmar and Laos, where traffickers exploited hundreds of Indian citizens for fraudulent schemes.
The Indian Embassy in Laos has reported rescuing 635 Indians from these centres this year, with 61 individuals rescued in August and 13 in May, including workers from Odisha.
The fraudulent job offers often advertised roles such as Digital Sales and Marketing Executives and Customer Support Service, which serve as fronts for scam operations.
Agents in cities like Dubai, Bangkok, and Singapore facilitate these schemes by promising high salaries, visa assistance, and travel arrangements to lure victims.
The NIA’s raids are likely to uncover further evidence of the syndicate’s operations, with more arrests likely in the coming days.
Authorities have issued a public warning, urging individuals to remain cautious and verify job offers abroad to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent schemes.
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