Gujarat Police has uncovered an international human trafficking racket that lured unemployed youth with promises of jobs abroad, only to send them to Myanmar. Once there, the youths were forced to work for cybercriminals.
According to police, three accused have been arrested for sending at least 52 youths from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia to Myanmar. The kingpin of the racket allegedly earned around ₹3 lakh for sending each person abroad.
Final Call: Be DPDP Act Ready with FCRF’s Certified Data Protection Officer Program
Youth Pushed into “Cyber Slavery”
The investigation revealed that unemployed youths were promised attractive salaries and a comfortable lifestyle. But after crossing the border, they were forced into “cyber slavery”, made to work in call centres engaged in fraud and scams.
“The youths believed they were going abroad for legitimate jobs. But once there, their ID cards and passports were confiscated, and they were treated like bonded laborers,” a senior police officer said.
Arrests and the Network of the Racket
Those arrested include Preet Kamani, a resident of Zirakpur near Chandigarh, Ashish Rana from Surat, and Neeraj Chaudhary from Uttarakhand. Police suspect that the network was not limited to Gujarat, but extended across North India and neighbouring countries.
Experts Sound the Alarm
Cybercrime expert Professor Triveni Singh said this case is not just about human trafficking but also tied to the global structure of cybercrime. “Several camps are running along the China-Myanmar border, where youths are forced to carry out online fraud. This is organized crime that exploits unemployment and greed,” he said.
A Wider Crisis
Human rights activists argue that this incident highlights a deepening crisis, where economic insecurity, unemployment, and cross-border criminal syndicates are increasingly intertwined. Experts note that the victims are not merely deceived, but become captives of “digital slavery.”