The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a suspected organised human trafficking network that lured Indian nationals to Southeast Asian countries under the guise of lucrative overseas employment, officials said on Wednesday.
According to investigators, victims were promised high-paying jobs abroad but were instead transported to scam compounds in countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia. These facilities, allegedly run by transnational cybercrime syndicates, have been described by authorities as hubs of “cyber slavery,” where trafficked individuals are forced to engage in online financial fraud.
The probe has revealed that victims were subjected to strict confinement, with their passports confiscated upon arrival. Authorities also documented instances of physical abuse and psychological coercion. In several cases, victims were reportedly forced to contact their families in India to arrange ransom payments in exchange for their release.
As part of the crackdown, the CBI carried out coordinated raids at nine locations across four states, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Lucknow, Kashipur, as well as locations in the Gonda and Saharanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. The raids followed an extensive nationwide inquiry during which statements from multiple victims were recorded.
Investigators have also conducted a detailed financial probe, including tracking cryptocurrency transactions, to identify and map the network’s funding channels. Several electronic devices containing alleged incriminating evidence were seized during the searches.
One individual has been arrested in Lucknow for his suspected role in facilitating the trafficking operations. Preliminary findings suggest that agents involved in the racket received payments from operators of overseas scam compounds in return for supplying Indian nationals.
The investigation remains ongoing, with officials indicating that further arrests and international coordination may follow as efforts intensify to dismantle the network.
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