Lured with Thailand jobs, trapped in Myanmar: NIA charges 3 people in cyber trafficking racket

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed charges against three accused persons, including an absconding suspected Chinese national, in a human trafficking and cyber fraud racket, operated by Indian and foreign agents from Myanmar.The accused, identified as Ankit Kumar @ Ankit Bharadwaj, Ishtikhar Ali @ Ali and Lisa have been charged under Sections 61(2), 127(4), 143(3),308(2), 318(4) and 62 r/w 143(3) of BNS and Section 24 of Emigration Act in the chargesheet filed before the NIA special court in Panchkula, Haryana.NIA, which had taken over the case from Haryana Police, had found during investigation that the three, along with known and unknown associates, were involved in trafficking vulnerable Indian youth to the Myawaddy region of Myanmar.The agency uncovered a well-organised network of traffickers and touts engaged in illegal activities - ranging from unlicensed recruitment of Indian citizens abroad, to the illicit transfer of victims for criminal operations in Southeast Asia.Ankit Kumar & Ishtikhar Ali, who have been arrested, were engaged in luring Indian youth by offering legitimate jobs in Thailand, and further coordinated online interviews with Lisa, believed to be a Chinese national based in Myanmar, according to an NIA spokesperson.The duo deceived the victims by presenting Lisa as a genuine recruiter and making them believe that they would be provided secure jobs in Thailand. The accused arranged transportation for the victims from India to Myanmar, illegally via Thailand.On reaching Myanmar, the trafficked victims were forced to work in cyber scam companies, creating fake social media profiles and engaging with people in the USA, UK, and Canada to convince them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency apps, NIA investigations revealed. On refusal, the victims were confined and coerced by the scamsters to continue engaging in the illegal cyber activities. The accused also forced the victims to pay hefty amounts for their release.