In a major breakthrough, Zone XI police have dismantled a cross-border human trafficking syndicate operating between Bangladesh and Mumbai under the guise of job placements in hospitals, domestic work, and the medical sector. Eight accused have been arrested and 15 individuals — including 14 Bangladeshi women and one man — have been rescued.
The operation came to light on June 7 during a verification drive by Malwani police targeting suspected illegal immigrants. Three Bangladeshi women and an agent, Mansar Ahmad Mohammad Hasan Shakeel, were detained. His interrogation led to the uncovering of a widespread trafficking ring.
DCP Anand Bhoite of Zone XI formed a special task force led by Woman PSI Maya Danake and officers from Malwani, Kandivli, and Borivli units. The team arrested eight people, including agents from West Bengal, Thane, and Malad. Two key accused — Sanjiv alias Bachchan and Mehndi Hasan — remain absconding.
Police say the syndicate was well-structured. A Bangladeshi trafficker named Farooq (still at large) recruited vulnerable women aged 19–30 by promising them high-paying jobs in India. Each victim was sold for ₹20,000 and smuggled to West Bengal, where local agents like Jahangir Vishwas received them.
From there, the women were transported to Mumbai via middlemen and placed in rented flats. Indian agents forcibly pushed them into prostitution, while operators like Sarkar took cuts from their earnings and facilitated online money transfers to Bangladesh.