Mumbai Police Uncover International Cyber Slavery Ring
A Shocking Discovery
In a significant development, the Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police in Mumbai have dismantled a disturbing international cyber slavery network that sprawls across India, Thailand, and Myanmar. This operation has already led to the arrests of two individuals alleged to be instrumental in luring victims with false job promises, only to subject them to harrowing conditions of forced labor in cybercrime operations.
Job Offers Turned Into Nightmares
According to reports from MBVV Police officials, numerous young men from the Mira-Bhayander region have fallen victim to deceitful job offers that promised high salaries in Thailand. However, upon their arrival in Bangkok, they were covertly transported across the border into Myanmar, where they were coerced into working for fraudulent cyber enterprises involved in global cryptocurrency scams.
Victims Sayyad Hussain and Amar Lakdawala were reportedly forced to work for a fraudulent company known as UU8, allegedly run by a Chinese national named Leo and an Indian associate named Steve Anna. Their primary role was to engage with Indian nationals on social media, gain their trust, and encourage them to invest in fake Bitcoin and cryptocurrency applications.
Victims Held Hostage, Forced to Pay for Freedom
The situation became more dire for these individuals once they grasped the true nature of their predicament and sought to return home. According to police investigations, upon voicing their desire to leave, they were held captive, physically assaulted, and threatened with violence.
“They were told to pay ₹6 lakh each for their release,” a senior police officer revealed. After managing to gather the ransom, both victims eventually secured their freedom and returned to India.
Upon their return, they approached the Mira-Bhayander Police to file a complaint that detailed their traumatic ordeal. This led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against eight individuals on charges including cheating, human trafficking, and criminal conspiracy.
Key Arrests and Money Trail
In a prompt response, the MBVV crime branch apprehended two key suspects: Asif Khan, known as Nepali, from Naya Nagar, Mira-Bhayander, and Rohit Mardhana, who was arrested in Surat after being picked up in Visakhapatnam.
“Rohit accepted ₹6 lakh from the victims and transferred it to the kingpins based abroad,” explained an investigating officer. This money was part of the ransom demand made by the syndicate for the two victims’ freedom. The police suspect that both individuals acted as recruiting agents, identifying vulnerable job seekers and linking them to international traffickers.
Investigations are still ongoing, with authorities striving to trace the foreign operatives involved in this elaborate scam.
Expanding Cyber Slavery Network Under Scrutiny
Authorities believe that the case in Mira-Bhayander may be indicative of a broader network of human trafficking and cybercrime that extends through India, Thailand, Myanmar, and even Cambodia.
“We are working closely with Interpol and central agencies to track down the masterminds operating from outside the country,” a spokesperson for the MBVV Police mentioned. Preliminary evidence implies that hundreds of Indians could be trapped in similar schemes across different regions.
These arrests signify a crucial breakthrough in combating cyber slavery operations that exploit individuals, forcing them to engage in online scams under dire threats. Police are reaching out to the public to encourage vigilance regarding overseas job offers and have urged citizens to report any suspicious recruiting activities to help prevent further exploitation.
