In a major crackdown on international cybercrime and human trafficking, the Jharkhand Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has dismantled a transnational “cyber slavery” racket that lured unemployed youths with promises of lucrative overseas jobs and forced them into online fraud operations.
The CID has arrested key accused, including Sartaj Alam from Jamshedpur and his associate Dawood Ahmed from Mumbai’s Dongri. Several victims trafficked to Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries have also been rescued as part of the ongoing operation.
The investigation was triggered in February 2025, when a youth from Jharkhand reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), alleging that he had been held hostage in Myanmar and coerced into committing cyber fraud. Acting on the complaint, the MEA, along with other agencies, facilitated his rescue and return to India. His subsequent interrogation by the CID’s Cyber Crime Branch provided crucial leads.
According to officials, the victim revealed that he had been lured by an agent identified as Firoz with the promise of a high-paying overseas job. He was first sent to Bangkok and later trafficked to Myanmar, where he was forced to participate in cyber scams targeting individuals in India and abroad.
Based on his statement, the CID registered a formal case on December 16, 2025, and launched a detailed investigation. Sartaj Alam, identified as the main accused, was arrested from Jamshedpur for allegedly orchestrating the trafficking of youths with the help of his associates. The case diary has since been submitted before the court.
In a follow-up operation, Dawood was apprehended from Mumbai. Investigators uncovered financial links between the two accused, further strengthening the case.
CID officials revealed that more than a dozen youths from districts including Hazaribagh, Khunti, and Jamshedpur were trafficked to Bangkok and Myanmar and forced into cybercrime. So far, over half a dozen victims have been rescued, and their statements have been recorded.
The accused reportedly targeted unemployed youths with technical backgrounds through social media platforms and Telegram, offering fake job opportunities in sectors such as data entry and banking. Victims were made to pay money for visa processing and travel arrangements.
Upon reaching foreign destinations, the victims’ passports were confiscated, and they were subjected to intimidation and harsh working conditions. They were forced to operate from scam centres for long hours without freedom of movement.
Rescued victims told investigators that they were trained under coercion to carry out various fraudulent activities, including creating fake accounts on platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. They were instructed to lure targets with attractive investment offers and send fraudulent links to siphon money.
The investigation also uncovered links between the Jharkhand-based accused and international cybercrime syndicates operating from Myanmar, Dubai, Cambodia, and Thailand. These groups allegedly used Indian SIM cards to make calls, exploiting the trust associated with Indian numbers to deceive victims more effectively.
The CID has stated that further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the network and rescue more victims trapped abroad.
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