Gurgaon — A 26-year-old man from Haryana has been arrested for allegedly trafficking Indian youths to Myanmar, where they were forced into cyber-fraud operations run by international crime syndicates, police said.
The accused, identified as Praveen, was detained on November 27 after authorities registered a complaint earlier in the week. Police officials said he was part of a wider network that lured young men with promises of lucrative overseas jobs, only to transport them illegally to Myanmar through Thailand via what traffickers call the “donkey route.”
Once across the border, the victims were allegedly coerced into working for scam centers operated by Chinese criminal groups. According to investigators, Praveen earned commissions of around ₹50,000 for each youth he successfully sent abroad. Officials say at least two victims from Jind were trafficked through this network.
One victim told police that instead of the promised job in Thailand, he was taken to Myanmar and forced into cyber scams. When he resisted, the syndicate threatened him with death. The traffickers later demanded USD 4,700 from his family to send him back to India. He was eventually rescued during a Myanmar army crackdown on illegal operations.
ACP (Cyber Crime) Priyanshu Diwan said Praveen had traveled to Thailand in November 2024, where he established connections with fraud groups from India, Pakistan, and China. Police are now investigating the transnational links of the network and tracking additional victims.
Authorities warn that cyber-slavery operations across Southeast Asia continue to expand, preying on desperate job seekers and exploiting porous borders.
