Seven Indian nationals who were trafficked to Myanmar and forced to carry out international financial fraud have been rescued and repatriated following a detailed investigation by the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police, officials said on Saturday
Trapped in notorious scam hub in Myanmar
According to PTI, the victims were taken to Myawaddy Township in Myanmar and confined at KK Park, a location identified by investigators as a major cyber scam centre. The men were allegedly held under threat of violence and coerced into defrauding foreign citizens online.
The case came to light after two residents of Mira Road — Syed Irtiis Fazal Abbas Hussain and Ammar Aslam Lakdawala — managed to escape and return to India. They later filed a complaint at Nayanagar police station, triggering a wider probe.
Lured by fake job offers abroad
Assistant Commissioner of Police Madan Ballal said the victims were lured between July and September 2025 with promises of jobs in Bangkok by acquaintances Asif Khan and Adnan Sheikh. Instead, they were trafficked to Myanmar and handed over to foreign handlers operating a company identified as UU8.
Investigators said the victims were threatened with physical harm and forced to run online fraud operations. When they resisted, the syndicate allegedly demanded a ransom of ₹6 lakh per person, routed through multiple Indian bank accounts, for their release.
International coordination led to rescue
Crime Branch Unit I senior inspector Sushilkumar Shinde said investigators traced the victims using passport details, mobile data and Myanmar-based IP addresses. This information was shared with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, enabling coordination with the Indian Embassy in Yangon.
Based on the inputs, the Myanmar Army raided KK Park on October 21. PTI reported that seven victims were identified and brought back to India this week, including four who fall under MBVV police jurisdiction.
Arrests made, financial trail under scan
Police have arrested four accused in connection with the trafficking racket from Mira Bhayandar, Surat in Gujarat, and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for human trafficking, kidnapping for ransom and cheating.
Investigators are now examining the financial trail linked to ransom payments, officials said, adding that further arrests are likely as the probe widens.