Sonauli (Maharajganj): Kushinagar Police have detained 453 Nepali nationals in connection with an alleged network marketing-based fraud racket and handed them over to Nepal Police after formal procedures at the Sonauli border. The action followed a complaint from the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi, which alerted Indian authorities about Nepali citizens allegedly being misled and trapped in suspicious activities in the Kushinagar region.
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Nepal Embassy Complaint Triggers Police Action
According to officials, the case came to light after the Nepal Embassy received information that a large number of Nepali men and women had allegedly been drawn into a chain-based network marketing system. The embassy informed Indian authorities that its citizens were being lured with promises of jobs and better income.
The complaint also alleged that some individuals had been forced into the system against their will, while others were unlawfully confined. Acting on the embassy’s request, local police launched an investigation and conducted coordinated raids in the Kasya area of Kushinagar district.
Several Nepali nationals were detained from multiple locations where suspected network marketing operations were active. Preliminary findings suggested that they had been brought to the area under the pretext of employment and later pushed into chain marketing activities.
453 People Taken to Sonauli Border
Authorities transported all 453 detained individuals to the Sonauli border in 11 vehicles. After completion of formalities, they were handed over to Nepal Police. The operation concluded on Saturday afternoon, after which security arrangements in the border region were strengthened.
Officials said the initial probe indicated the presence of an organised network operating through a structured model. New recruits were allegedly attracted with promises of jobs, commissions and quick earnings before being encouraged to bring in more participants.
The system allegedly expanded through a chain structure, with several individuals reportedly suffering financial losses and mental stress. Authorities are still examining the full scale of the network, including its leadership structure and possible local or international links.
Border Surveillance to Be Strengthened
Local administration officials said surveillance against suspicious network marketing and fraud-linked activities in border areas will be intensified. Police have also indicated that further arrests may take place as the investigation progresses.
The case has raised concerns over the misuse of network marketing schemes and online fraud networks in border regions. Officials believe such systems often target vulnerable individuals by offering false promises of employment and income.
The investigation is continuing, with authorities working to identify those behind the operation and dismantle the wider network involved in the alleged cross-border fraudulent activities.
