NIA Launches Major Operation Against Human Trafficking Ring; Searches Conducted Across 6 States
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New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) executed a series of extensive operations at 22 locations across six states on Thursday as part of a significant crackdown on an international human trafficking syndicate.
The case, registered under RC-10/2024/NIA/DLI, involves serious allegations under sections 418, 419, 420, 370, 374, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Sources suggest that this case has global connections extending to countries like Myanmar and Laos. The syndicate is accused of deceiving young individuals from Bihar's Gopalganj district with false assurances of well-paying jobs overseas. Once they arrived in foreign lands, victims were allegedly held captive in bogus call centers and coerced into participating in cyber fraud.
The proprietor of M.K. Training Centre, Keshav Singh, had previously been apprehended for his role in this trafficking operation. The FIR indicates that the syndicate misled Indian youth with the promise of employment, only to force them into cybercrime activities.
The NIA's inquiry has uncovered links to cyber-scam operations in Myanmar and Laos. These networks have exploited numerous Indian citizens, compelling them into fraudulent schemes such as cryptocurrency fraud and call center scams.
Further updates on this crackdown are expected soon.
The Indian Embassy in Laos has successfully rescued 635 Indians from these centers this year, repeatedly warning about deceptive job offers abroad. In August, 61 Indians were saved, and earlier in May, 13 others, including seven workers from Odisha, were repatriated.
Deceptive job advertisements often promote positions like 'Digital Sales and Marketing Executives' or 'Customer Support Service', which serve as fronts for scam operations. Agents based in cities such as Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, and various locations in India facilitate these scams, offering enticing salaries, visa support, and travel arrangements.
The NIA's operations are anticipated to uncover further evidence against the syndicate, with more arrests likely in the near future. Authorities have urged the public to stay alert and verify any job offers abroad to avoid becoming victims of such fraudulent schemes.
