Ahmedabad, Feb 4 (NationPress) The Ahmedabad Crime Branch, in collaboration with Banaskantha Police, has successfully apprehended Yunus, who is believed to be the principal mastermind and key supplier in a sophisticated child kidnapping and trafficking operation, authorities reported on Wednesday.

This arrest is a significant milestone in the ongoing investigation into the trafficking of a 15-day-old infant who was rescued on January 29.

A Crime Branch official stated to IANS, "Yunus was captured after extensive monitoring based on human intelligence and technical analysis. He resides in Danta taluka in Banaskantha."

Investigators are convinced he played a pivotal role in sourcing infants and orchestrating their transit through an extensive network of intermediaries across various districts.

Officials further indicated that this arrest has clarified the structure of the trafficking operation and elucidated how infants were acquired, transported, and delivered to buyers.

The case came to light when a joint team from the Gujarat Crime Branch and the Anti-Terrorism Squad intercepted a vehicle near the Ahmedabad airport area, rescuing a newborn who was reportedly being trafficked out of Gujarat.

During that operation, three individuals were arrested, and another suspect was detained for further questioning.

The infant was taken for medical examination and subsequently placed under the care of the Child Welfare Committee, according to police.

As investigations progressed, authorities discovered that the suspects had allegedly intended to transport the newborn to another state using road routes to evade detection.

Interrogating the arrested suspects and analyzing Call Detail Records unveiled a broader network that had been operational for some time, with connections to buyers beyond Gujarat.

Yunus was identified as a critical link, allegedly connecting local agents with interstate contacts.

Investigators have noted that such trafficking networks often prey on vulnerable families, especially those experiencing economic hardship, and utilize numerous layers of middlemen to mask the identities of buyers and sellers.

Payments are reportedly funneled through informal channels to avoid detection, while infants are moved within days of birth to minimize the risk of recovery.

Police are currently investigating whether the network associated with Yunus had involvement in other similar cases reported in northern Gujarat and adjacent areas.

Authorities are also striving to trace the biological parents of the rescued infant and confirm whether coercion or inducement was a factor.

Officials have stated that this arrest is anticipated to lead to further revelations about the operation’s scale, including the number of children trafficked and the routes employed.

All suspects have been charged under appropriate provisions of criminal law and child protection legislation, with additional arrests not ruled out as the investigation into the trafficking case unfolds.