NIA conducts raids in several states, arrests five for human trafficking

The NIA conducted searches at several locations in six states and Union Territories in connection with a human trafficking case involving cyber fraud, arresting five people, according to an official statement. The NIA reported that the accused lured Indian youth to foreign countries with false promises of employment.

The NIA has arrested five people in connection with a human trafficking case involving cyber fraud. The accused, identified as Manish Hingu from Vadodara, Pahlad Singh from Gopalganj, Nabialam Ray from southwest Delhi, Balwant Kataria from Gurugram and Sartaj Singh from Chandigarh, were arrested following a crackdown in 15 locations in Maharashtra, of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, an NIA spokesperson said.

The NIA, in coordination with the state police force and central intelligence agencies, carried out the operation. The searches resulted in the seizure of several incriminating items, including documents, digital devices, handwritten registers, several passports and false letters of employment abroad.

The NIA also reported that eight new FIRs have been registered by various state and union territory police forces. NIA investigations uncovered an organized trafficking syndicate involving the accused, which lured and trafficked Indian youths to foreign countries with false promises of legal employment.

The NIA said youths were forced to work in fake call centers in places like Laos, the Golden Triangle SEZ and Cambodia. The racket was primarily controlled and operated by foreign nationals.

The NIA revealed that the trafficked youths were forced into illegal activities online, including credit card fraud, cryptocurrency investments using fake apps and honey trapping.

The investigation also showed that the arrested individuals coordinated with traffickers operating across international borders to facilitate the illegal passage of young Indians from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam to the Laos special economic zone.

The NIA said the accused were working under foreign-based agents belonging to well-organized syndicates active in several districts of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. These syndicates were linked to agents in other parts of India and countries such as the UAE, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Laos SEZ.

The NIA carried out the searches and arrests as part of an investigation it took over from the Mumbai Police on May 13. The investigation revealed that the human trafficking syndicate not only operated in Mumbai but also had links with facilitators and traffickers across the country and internationally. borders. Further investigations are ongoing, the NIA reported.

Image Source: ANI