Has the CBI Cracked Down on 'Cyber Slaves' Trafficking? Two Arrested in India-Myanmar Scam Compound Case
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The CBI is actively fighting against human trafficking.
- Trafficked individuals face severe conditions and are coerced into cyber crimes.
- Many victims are lured by false job offers.
- Awareness and caution are crucial in preventing trafficking.
- The Indian government is taking steps to repatriate victims and combat these scams.
New Delhi, Nov 12 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated two investigations concerning the unlawful trafficking of Indian citizens to cyber-crime scam operations situated in Myanmar, leading to the arrest of two suspects, the agency announced on Wednesday.
The individuals apprehended have been named as Soyal Akhtar and Mohit Giri.
The CBI noted that these cases involve serious charges of human trafficking and wrongful confinement, with potential sentences reaching life imprisonment.
Throughout the investigation, the CBI discovered several agents working for foreign scam operations.
“Two of these agents, responsible for trafficking victims from Rajasthan and Gujarat to these operations, were arrested upon their return to India alongside the rescued individuals,” the CBI stated in its press release.
The agency further mentioned, “Investigations have indicated that numerous unsuspecting Indian citizens are being trafficked to scam operations in Myanmar, frequently through Thailand.”
An organized international syndicate entices these individuals with deceptive promises of lucrative job offers and appealing employment prospects abroad.
Once they leave India, they are redirected to Myanmar, where they face wrongful confinement and are coerced into participating in extensive cyber fraud schemes, including digital arrest scams, investment scams, and romance frauds targeting individuals globally, including Indian nationals.
“Those who are trafficked endure intimidation, confinement, and physical abuse, being compelled to engage in illegal cybercrime activities against their will,” it explained.
These victims are often labeled as “cyber slaves.”
This incident follows the recent repatriation of 197 Indian citizens who escaped to Thailand from a cyber scam hub in Myanmar, bringing the total number of repatriated individuals to 467.
The Indian Embassy in Thailand reported on Monday that 197 Indian nationals were brought back to India from Mae Sot via two special flights operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The Indian nationals returned on Monday had been detained in Mae Sot after entering Thailand from Myanmar's Myawaddy, where they were allegedly involved in cyber scam operations.
On November 7, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced that 270 Indians had been repatriated from Thailand’s Mae Sot city to India via two special IAF flights and urged Indian citizens to avoid job scam centers in Myanmar.