MUMBAI, April 10, 2025 — In a significant breakthrough against an international human trafficking and cybercrime syndicate, Maharashtra’s nodal cyber police have arrested a key suspect allegedly involved in trafficking nearly 60 Indian youths to Southeast Asia under the guise of fake job offers.
The accused, identified as Manish alias Maddy Gopi, a resident of Wadala, was apprehended on Tuesday from Lokhandwala, Andheri. His arrest followed a complaint lodged by Satish Sharma, a business hotel manager from Andheri East, whose inputs helped uncover the wider trafficking network.
Gopi is slated to be produced in court on Thursday, where investigators will seek his custodial remand. “We want his custodial interrogation to identify who else facilitated the network of accomplices as well as to recover the proceeds of the crimes,” said a senior cyber police official.
According to officials, the victims — mostly young job seekers — were duped with promises of employment in Thailand and were subsequently trafficked across the border into Myanmar. Once there, they were forced to work for a fake Chinese firm named DBL, engaging in cyber fraud operations.
“Last month, around 20 youths who managed to return to India lodged complaints against the traffickers. The youths were lured with job offers in Thailand by the racketeers, taken illegally to Myanmar and forced to indulge in cybercrimes,” an officer stated.
Authorities have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to repatriate others still stranded in Myanmar. “These youths have been rescued and are being brought to Mumbai,” the official added.
The investigation revealed chilling details of the racket’s operations. The accused and his associates allegedly sold around 20 persons to DBL for $1,000 each, collecting commissions in Thai currency. The proceeds were laundered through bank accounts opened using forged Aadhaar and PAN card details, with funds later converted into cryptocurrency to obscure the financial trail.
The criminal network is believed to have international links, with accomplices based in China, Laos, Myanmar, and Bangkok. Authorities are now expanding the probe to identify and locate these overseas operatives.
Police said this operation highlights the growing trend of human trafficking linked to organized cybercrime, particularly involving fake overseas job offers as bait. Law enforcement agencies are now coordinating with Interpol and other international partners to trace the full extent of the transnational syndicate.
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