Rachakonda Cops Bust Trafficking Ring, Arrest Four

The L B Nagar police's Special Operations Team today nabbed a gang running a human trafficking ring, and arrested four people in connection with the same.

In response to a complaint filed by a woman who was promised a job as a domestic help in Muscat, and was to fly there on February 7, the team raided Al-Hayath Tours and Travels, a travel agency in Malakpet, and arrested four employees of the agency.

The complainant had approached the police as she was being sent to Muscat not on a work visa, but on a tourist visa.

Speaking on the matter, Rachakonda Commissioner of Police Mohan Bhagwat said, "Such agencies lure women facing economic problems into becoming victims of trafficking by promising them jobs with high-paying salaries in the Gulf countries. The travel agents are supposed to help the women procure work visas. However, sometimes, the agents send them on illegal tourist visas, disempowering the women from approaching law enforcement officials in the destination country when faced with potential danger. The agents, by this time, stop responding to the calls of the women, of course."

"This is an easy way to make money for many people - we have found that local recruiters can potentially earn up to Rs 2 lakh for finding people who will take the "jobs". The agency, on the other hand, receives between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh from those they traffic the women to," he added.

During the raid, the police seized 40 passports, cash and mobile phones from the arrested individuals - travel agents Shaik Mohammed Imtiyaz (35) and N Subbamma (27), G Subba Rayudu (38), a driver, and Mohammed Haroon (52), an office assistant.

Three other accused - agency MD Mohammed Naseer, his daughter Sumaiaya Fathima (23), an employee Sayed - however, are still absconding.

The gang has reportedly already trafficked women to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Dubai and Qatar so far.

A case has been registered at the Medipally police station against them, and they have been charged with crimes under Sections 420 (cheating), 509 (intention to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC, and also under section 25 of the Emigration Act.