New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has stepped up its crackdown on transnational human trafficking and cyber fraud networks by attaching two immovable properties located in Bihar and Maharashtra, acting on the directions of a Special NIA Court in Patna. The agency said the assets were purchased using illicit proceeds of crime by a wanted accused who played a key role in trafficking Indian youth abroad and forcing them into cyber fraud operations.
The attached properties include a residential flat in Thane, Maharashtra, and a parcel of land in Siwan district of Bihar. According to the NIA, both assets were acquired by the accused, Anand Kumar Singh, in the name of his wife, using money generated through illegal human trafficking activities. Singh, an Indian national currently believed to be operating from Cambodia, remains absconding in connection with multiple cases registered in India.
From Human Trafficking to Cybercrime Rackets
Investigations by the NIA have revealed that Anand Kumar Singh was part of a well-organised international syndicate that targeted unemployed and economically vulnerable youth across several Indian states. Victims were lured with promises of high-paying, legitimate jobs overseas, particularly in Southeast Asian countries.
Once the victims reached Cambodia, their passports were confiscated, effectively stripping them of mobility and legal protection. They were then forcibly handed over or “sold” to cyber scam companies, where they were compelled to participate in online fraud targeting individuals across different countries.
The agency found that those who resisted or refused to carry out cyber fraud activities were subjected to severe mental and physical abuse. The investigation further uncovered that the proceeds from these cyber scams were routed back to India through hawala channels and other illegal financial mechanisms, and subsequently invested in real estate and other assets.
Court Declares Assets ‘Proceeds of Crime’
The NIA said the Special Court at Patna examined the evidence and concluded that the two properties constituted “proceeds of crime”. Acting under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the court passed the attachment order on December 10.
The court also directed that the properties be auctioned, with the funds generated from the sale to be forfeited to the government, reinforcing the principle that assets acquired through criminal activity cannot be retained, even if held in the names of family members.
Effort to Dismantle the Entire Network
Senior NIA officials stressed that the action against Singh is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the entire transnational network involved in human trafficking and cyber fraud. Investigators are currently working to identify and trace the roles of recruiters, fake job agents, overseas cyber scam operators, and financial intermediaries involved in moving illicit funds across borders.
Officials noted that such syndicates prey on India’s young and aspirational population, exploiting economic distress and unemployment. Beyond financial losses to victims, these crimes also pose serious reputational and security challenges for the country at the international level.
NIA’s Parallel Action in Other Trafficking Cases
The agency has intensified its efforts against human trafficking on multiple fronts. Last month, the NIA filed a chargesheet against 10 accused before a special court in Bhubaneswar, in a separate case involving the trafficking of a minor Bangladeshi girl into Odisha through India’s eastern border.
The investigation revealed that the accused had lured the minor with promises of employment and subsequently pushed her into immoral trafficking for financial gain. The NIA found that the traffickers exploited the extreme poverty and vulnerability of the victim’s family to execute the crime. The case exposed yet another layer of an extensive interstate and international trafficking network.
Tough Stance on Cybercrime and Trafficking
Legal and security experts say the attachment of properties marks a significant shift in enforcement strategy, with agencies now focusing on hitting criminal networks financially, rather than limiting action to arrests alone. Asset seizures send a strong deterrent message that profits derived from human suffering and cybercrime will not be protected.
The NIA has stated that more property attachments, arrests, and chargesheets are likely in the coming months as investigations progress. The agency has also urged citizens to remain vigilant against suspicious overseas job offers and to report any suspected trafficking or cyber fraud activities to law enforcement agencies without delay.
