In a significant breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has unveiled a major international human trafficking syndicate, filing a comprehensive charge sheet against 24 individuals, including five foreign nationals. The charges, submitted before the NIA Special Court in Assam’s capital Guwahati, shed light on a complex web of criminal activities that facilitated the illegal entry of Bangladeshi and Rohingya individuals into India through the use of forged documents.
The NIA’s relentless efforts in collaboration with state police departments led to the arrest of 29 suspects during widespread raids across 39 locations in regions such as Tripura, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, and West Bengal. The investigation uncovered a trove of incriminating evidence, including fraudulent Indian identity papers, bank records, and digital devices, highlighting the sophistication of the syndicate’s operations.
Charges have been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Foreigners Act, and the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, coupled with Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950. This legal action underscores the gravity of the offenses committed by the accused in orchestrating a transnational network engaged in human trafficking.
Among those charged, five foreign nationals, including four from Bangladesh and one Rohingya from Myanmar, played pivotal roles in the syndicate. The NIA’s meticulous investigation revealed a pattern of trafficking activities aimed at facilitating the entry of Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals into India, with forged documents serving as the gateway for their illicit operations.
The case, originally registered by the Assam Police under the Passport Act 1967, took a crucial turn when credible information pointed to organized human trafficking syndicates exploiting Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals for anti-India activities. Subsequently, the NIA assumed control of the case, re-registering it as RC-01/2023/NIA/GUW.
The expanded scope of the investigation, spanning multiple states and involving collaborative efforts between the NIA and state police, reflects the complexity and scale of the syndicate’s operations. The arrests made during the initial raids were augmented by further detentions in Tripura, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to 33.
This landmark case not only highlights the NIA’s commitment to combating transnational crimes but also emphasizes the need for continued vigilance against human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable individuals for illicit purposes. As legal proceedings unfold in the NIA Special Court, the revelations from this investigation serve as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges posed by organized crime in the realm of human trafficking.