As part of the ongoing inquiry, the CBI has executed coordinated searches at nine sites across four states, including Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Kashipur, as well as locations in Gonda and Saharanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh.
These measures are a continuation of a thorough nationwide investigation during which testimonies from victims have been collected. The agency has also performed an in-depth financial analysis, including monitoring cryptocurrency transactions, to pinpoint individuals linked to the trafficking network.
During the searches, various electronic devices containing potentially incriminating evidence were confiscated, and an individual was arrested in Lucknow for allegedly facilitating the trafficking operations. Preliminary findings from the CBI indicate that the agents in this network received payments from scam compound operators in exchange for providing Indian nationals.
Investigations reveal that victims were enticed with false assurances of well-paying jobs and were subsequently moved to scam compounds primarily situated in Myanmar and Cambodia.
The facilities run by transnational cybercrime syndicates have been labeled as centers of “cyber slavery” by the CBI, where trafficked individuals are coerced into participating in various forms of cyber-enabled fraud.
The agency further stated that individuals in these compounds face stringent movement restrictions, with their passports typically seized upon arrival. Reports highlight cases of both physical and psychological abuse, where victims are pressured to solicit financial help from their families to secure their release.
