OPERATION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING NETWORKS | NIA conducts searches in J&K, 9 other locations across country

Jammu, Nov 8: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Wednesday detained a resident of Myanmar from Narwal-Bathindi area in Jammu during its multi-location searches across ten states and Union Territories, including J&K.
During NIA raids, which were aimed at busting human trafficking networks, two separate teams conducted searches in temporary settlements of Rohingyas in parts of Samba and Jammu districts.
NIA operation aimed at dismantling illegal human trafficking support networks involved in infiltration and settlement of illegal migrants across the Indo-Bangladesh border into India.

“During searches, a team detained a Myanmar resident identified as Zaffar Alam in Narwal area. He is a suspect in the Manipur blast case while another suspect (Myanmar resident) from Bathindi, in a case of violation of Passport Act and human trafficking, is still at large,” a police official said.
Meanwhile, the NIA spokesperson, in an official statement, said that 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) and State Police forces, conducted a comprehensive operation this morning.

“Following registration of 4 human trafficking cases at the NIA branches in Guwahati, Chennai, Bangalore, Jaipur, simultaneous and synchronised 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,” the spokesperson said.
According to him, the initial case, FIR no: 12/2023 dated September 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 October 6, 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,” NIA spokesperson said.

He said that 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 8, 2023 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,” the official statement mentioned.

NIA spokesperson said that a total of 44 operatives were apprehended and arrested during the operation during the day. These arrests were made across various states viz., 21 in Tripura; 10 in Karnataka; 5 in Assam; 3 in West Bengal; 2 in Tamil Nadu; 1 in Puducherry; 1 in Telangana and 1 in Haryana.

“The 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,” the spokesperson said.