22 Locations Searched in Six States as NIA Cracks Down on Cyber Slavery and Human Trafficking Syndicate

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out extensive raids at 22 locations across six states on Thursday in connection with a human trafficking and forced cyber fraud case. During the operation, the agency seized incriminating materials and cash linked to the suspects.

The raids targeted the premises of 17 individuals in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Punjab. These individuals are believed to be sub-agents, associates, and relatives of Indian agents operating from Cambodia, who are involved in trafficking young Indian men to Southeast Asian countries like Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The suspects were engaged in trafficking job-seeking Indian youths, managing their financial transactions, and handling logistics, according to NIA officials.

The operation led to the recovery of several digital devices, including mobile phones, laptops, hard drives, and memory cards, along with financial and property documents. A sum of Rs 34,80,800 in cash was also seized.

NIA investigations have revealed that young job-seekers were being lured with offers of attractive jobs, only to be forced into cyber fraud activities. These trafficked individuals were sent to scam companies, where their passports were confiscated. Victims who resisted were subjected to severe physical and mental abuse, including electric shocks, by the managers of the scam companies, as detailed in statements to the NIA.

Ongoing investigations are expected to uncover more details. According to the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs, 29,466 Indians who traveled to Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia between January 2022 and May 2024 on visitor visas are currently missing. Half of them are aged between 20-39, with a significant number hailing from Punjab, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Nearly 70% of these missing individuals are believed to be in Thailand.

Reports suggest that around 5,000 Indian nationals may be trapped in similar call center fraud operations in Cambodia alone. The Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh has successfully repatriated over 1,000 individuals, with about 770 being rescued in 2024. Additionally, 47 young men were rescued from Laos in August this year.