An ex-merchant navy officer has been arrested for allegedly trafficking Indian youths to Cambodia and Thailand under the false promise of high-paying jobs, only to force them into cyber fraud operations. The accused, identified as Nagesh Kumar, is believed to be one of the masterminds behind an international “cyber slavery” racket.
According to investigators, the gang targeted young Indians by offering lucrative overseas job opportunities, luxurious lifestyles, and quick career growth. Victims were reportedly charged lakhs of rupees to secure these foreign placements before being sent to Southeast Asian countries.
However, once they arrived abroad, the reality turned horrifying. Police said the victims’ passports were confiscated and they were held captive inside cyber scam centres. They were allegedly forced to engage in online fraud, fake investment scams, and digital cheating operations. Any resistance reportedly resulted in mental and physical torture.
The shocking racket came to light after several youths managed to contact authorities and claimed they had been trapped in cyber scam compounds overseas. Following the complaints, the Agra Cyber Cell launched a detailed investigation into the network.
During the probe, investigators discovered that many Indian youths were still stranded abroad and were being coerced into committing cyber crimes. Acting on intelligence, police conducted multiple raids and eventually arrested Nagesh Kumar from the Palampur area of Himachal Pradesh.
Officials said the mobile phone recovered from the accused contains crucial evidence, including alleged communications with foreign entities and suspected Chinese companies. Investigators believe the data could reveal a much larger international cyber-crime and human trafficking network.
Police suspect the racket was not limited to human trafficking alone but was closely linked to organised cyber fraud operations running across multiple countries. Several other accused connected to the network have already been arrested in earlier crackdowns.
In a similar case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently filed a chargesheet against five individuals involved in a Cambodia-based cyber slavery and human trafficking syndicate. Victims in those cases reportedly faced severe abuse, including electric shocks, confinement, and denial of food and water.
Authorities now fear that the international cyber slavery network may have links extending to several foreign nations. Further investigation into the gang’s global connections is currently underway.
