CBI will probe human trafficking cases, govt tells HC

KOCHI: State government's order handing over probe into alleged human trafficking incidents through international airports at Nedumbassery and Thiruvananthapuram to CBI was presented before the Kerala high court on Tuesday evening. Director general of prosecution T Asaf Ali submitted a copy of the government order, which was issued on Tuesday, before justice P D Rajan.The court had directed him to submit the order during the morning session.
The court was considering the bail plea of Abdul Hameed Savad, who is the second accused in the case of human trafficking through Nedumbassery airport. Along with the probe into alleged human trafficking incidents through Nedumbassery international airport, government has decided to ask CBI to look into similar incidents at Thiruvananthapuram international airport also, according to the order.
Currently, crime branch wing of Kerala police is investigating two incidents of alleged human trafficking through Thiruvananthapuram airport.
Last week, government had informed the high court that it was found that Nedumbassery airport had been functioning as the main gateway for human trafficking activities since 2007. Police suspect that several persons, including anti-national elements, were using the gateway, government had told the court.
A civil police officer, A P Ajeeb, is the main accused in the case related to human trafficking through Nedumbassery airport. He is accused of operating a racket in connivance with travel operators during his posting at the airport, for about four years.
Human trafficking through Thiruvananthapuram airport came to light in February 2005, when two foreign nationals, an Iranian and an Afghan, were nabbed at Doha airport while travelling using fake foreign passports. The Iranian, Syed Dawood Hashmi, and the Afghan national, Jumar Khan, had boarded a flight to Doha from Thiruvananthapuram international airport.