In a big blow to human trafficking networks operating across 10 states and UTs, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in close coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) , Tripura police and other state police forces, conducted a comprehensive operation across multiple states in India in the wee hours Wednesday. The operation aimed at dismantling illegal human trafficking support networks involved in infiltration and settlement of illegal migrants across the Indo-Bangladesh border into India.

The NIA raids were conducted in Tripura, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Haryana, Puducherry, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir.

NIA teams along with BSF and Tripura police started their operations from at about 2 AM of and continued till the early morning of Wednesday at Sabroom, Belonia under South Tripura district, Bishalgarh, Sonamura in Sepahijala district, bordering areas of Amtali and Champaknagar under West Tripura district and some undisclosed parts of Unakoti district. During the raid, the NIA team has arrested a total of 21 human traffickers, touts and middleman, who were directly involved in trafficking of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators in different parts of India through Tripura border.

Sources said that during their raids at Sabroom, the NIA team arrested three human traffickers including Sukanta Datta, Bikram Tripura and Babul Tripura from Rupaicherri block of South Tripura district. While, the names of other 18 traffickers are yet to be known.

Sources said that the NIA team, later in the afternoon left Agartala along with 212 arrested touts and middlemen through an Air Force’s special flight (IL-76) from Agartala airport towards New Delhi.

Official sources said that in the month of February 2023, a group of Rohingyas were detected on a Train coming from Tripura, at Karimganj Railway Station, by the Karimganj Police. After thorough investigation, it came to light that illegal Rohingyas infiltrators were entering India, through the Indo-Bangladesh border. After the incident, Assam Police increased the vigil and operations resulting in 450 illegal migrants (Rohingyas, Bangladeshis) being stopped and turned back with the assistance of the Border Guarding Forces.

Sources added that during the course of enquiries and questioning, it was ascertained that the illegal migrants were facilitated in entering India illegally by touts and middlemen, who have been playing a major role in the infiltration. During investigation, it was also learnt that the touts exist not only on both the sides of the Indo-Bangladesh border, but also in the mainland. Thus, began an operation to root out the network of touts.

Earlier, the Assam police’s Special Task Force (STF) launched the operation in July 2023 and were able to arrest ten such touts and middlemen. Further investigation revealed that the network of touts existed across India, which was a serious National Security concern with Inter-State ramifications. Therefore, the Assam government requested the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to transfer one of the cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) given the fact that Assam was being used as a corridor for this anti-National activity. Accordingly, NIA took up the case and by the investigation and a collaborative effort with the Assam Police. NIA and Assam Police collated the list of touts who were involved in this nefarious crime. After meticulous planning, a country wide operation was launched by the NIA and Assam Police during the wee hours of November 8, 2023 in association with various State Police Forces. In the Operation, so far, a total of 47 touts and middlemen have been picked up the break-up of which is as follows:

Sources added that following registration of 4 Human trafficking cases at the NIA branches in Guwahati, Chennai, Bangalore, Jaipur, simultaneous and synchronized raids and searches were carried out at a total of 55 locations across Tripura, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Haryana, Rajasthan, union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry.

A NIA statement said that the initial case, FIR no: 12/2023 dated 9.9.2023, was registered by the Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF) and pertained to a human trafficking network responsible for the infiltration and settlement of illegal migrants across the Indo-Bangladesh border into India, including those of Rohingya origin. The operations of this network extended into various parts of the country, including regions along the Indo-Bangladesh international border. Recognising the international and inter-State linkages of the case and its complexity, the NIA formally took charge of the investigations on 06.10.2023 by registering a case as RC 01/2023/NIA/GUW at the NIA Police Station in Guwahati.

NIA investigations in the case revealed that different modules of this illegal human trafficking network were spread over various States, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir and operating from there. In response to these investigational findings, the NIA registered three new cases to bust the modules of this extensive network based in different regions and States of the country.

Coordinated raids were executed in the early morning hours of November 8th as part of the ongoing operation. During the searches, the NIA recovered various items of significance, including digital devices, such as mobile phones, SIM cards, and pen drives. A significant number of identity-related documents, including Aadhar cards and Pan Cards, suspected to be forged, Indian currency notes with a total value exceeding Rs. 20 lakhs and foreign currency amounting to 4550 USD.

Subsequent to Wednesday’s operations, a total of 44 operatives have been apprehended and arrested by the NIA including 21 from Tripura, 10 from Karnataka, 5 from Assam, 3 in West Bengal, 2 in Tamil Nadu, 1 in Puducherry ,1 in Telangana and one more from Haryana .

NIA statement added that all arrested accused individuals will be presented before the respective jurisdictional courts. Further investigations into the activities and modus operandi of these illegal human trafficking networks would continue to dismantle the entire ecosystem of these networks.