Four more individuals have been apprehended by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday for their alleged involvement in human trafficking operations along the India-Bangladesh border. This arrest follows the nationwide raids conducted on November 8, 2023, which resulted in the apprehension of 29 key operatives associated with human trafficking syndicates.
The apprehensions were executed in cooperation with the Tripura Police. The accused individuals were engaged in the unlawful infiltration into India through Tripura. They are connected to the human trafficking case that was filed by the NIA in Guwahati in October of this year. Once the necessary orders are obtained from a competent court in Agartala, the accused will be transported to Guwahati and presented before the NIA court.
The apprehended individuals were located near the Indo-Bangladesh border and were associated with the 29 individuals previously arrested in connection with the case. They were involved in human trafficking activities under the direction of racketeers affiliated with a well-organized syndicate operating in various districts of Tripura, a northeastern state. This network of syndicates was further linked to operatives situated in different parts of India.
Investigations have uncovered new information regarding the infiltration and forgery of identities. The four individuals who were apprehended were found to be collaborating with traffickers who operate from the international border, specifically to facilitate the illegal entry of individuals from Bangladesh into India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) initiated a case on October 6, 2023, after receiving intelligence about the activities of organized human trafficking syndicates along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Additionally, the NIA received reports of foreign nationals being trafficked illegally and settled in various parts of India. Through their investigation, the NIA discovered that these human trafficking syndicates had connections with other facilitators and traffickers operating throughout the country and across the India-Bangladesh border.
Furthermore, the arrested individuals, who were taken into custody by the anti-terror agency on Friday, were found to have arranged forged Indian identity documents for the trafficked individuals coming from across the border into India. This revelation came to light during the NIA’s investigations.