The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) busted a major human trafficking network active across the country allegedly duping youths with the promise of lucrative jobs in Russia.
According to sources, after sending them off to Russia, the agents in that country would get the trafficked Indian nationals trained in combat and deployed at the Russia-Ukraine war zone against their wishes.
Advertisement
A total of 19 such travel consultants and agencies have been booked by the CBI across the nation on suspected offence of criminal conspiracy, cheating and human trafficking, sources said.
The Central probe agency conducted simultaneous searches at around 13 locations in Delhi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai.
The sleuths of the federal agency have, so far, recovered cash of over Rs 50 lakh, incriminating documents, and seized electronic records in laptops, mobiles, desktops and CCTV footage.
According to CBI sources, certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations.
The agency said so far, around 35 instances of sending victims abroad have been established while the identities of more are being established even as the probe is underway.
A case has been registered by the federal agency on Wednesday against private Visa consultancy firms and agents and others who have been found involved in alleged trafficking of Indian nationals to Russia under the guise of better employment and high paying jobs.
