NEW DELHI, June 9 -- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two alleged key operatives of an international human trafficking syndicate accused of luring Indian citizens to scam centres in Southeast Asia with promises of lucrative overseas jobs and subsequently forcing them into cyber fraud activities.
The accused have been identified as Nipender Chaudhary and Nilesh Narpatsinh Purohit.
According to the CBI, the syndicate targeted Indian job seekers by offering high-paying employment opportunities abroad. Victims were persuaded to travel to Southeast Asian countries with assurances of legitimate jobs and attractive salaries.
However, upon arrival, many were allegedly taken to scam compounds operating primarily in Myanmar and parts of Cambodia, where they were forced to participate in online fraud schemes run by organised criminal networks.
Investigators said victims faced severe restrictions, including confiscation of passports and travel documents, curtailed movement, and physical and psychological abuse. In several instances, families were allegedly forced to pay large sums to secure the release of their relatives.
The probe revealed that Chaudhary allegedly played a key role in facilitating the movement of Indian nationals to Myanmar through Thailand. He is accused of coordinating travel arrangements and transit routes used to transport victims from India to scam centres.
According to officials, victims were flown to Bangkok and then moved to Mae Sot in Thailand before being illegally taken across the Thailand-Myanmar border and handed over to operators of scam compounds.
Purohit, meanwhile, allegedly operated from a scam centre near the Thailand-Myanmar border and coordinated a network of agents across India on behalf of the syndicate.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.