Three Arrested In Punjab For Running Cross-Border Human Trafficking Ring

On August 31, 2025, Surat’s cybercrime division hit a global human trafficking network that operated with alarming sophistication. They arrested three individuals, Nipender alias Neerav Chaudhary, Preet Kamani, and visa agent Ashish Rana, after raiding a flat in Zirakpur, Punjab. Over 40 victims from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia had been lured into trafficking for cybercrime under the guise of legitimate jobs in Thailand. Promises of monthly salaries between ₹70,000 and ₹1 lakh had enticed them. Instead, each victim paid between ₹3 and ₹4 lakh and was transported to Laukkai, Myanmar—an international cyberfraud hub run by criminal syndicates.

Authorities seized mobile phones and a laptop with records of these trafficked individuals. Investigators said the network operated for at least 18 months, and local agents from Gujarat trafficked nine victims. The trio faces charges including human trafficking, cheating, wrongful confinement, and criminal conspiracy.

From Social Media to Cross-Border Crime

Chaudhary, acting as an HR manager for a China-linked firm, recruited victims via social media and managed logistics. He handled payments, up to ₹4 lakh per person, from Chinese operators, paid commissions to Kamani and Rana, and arranged ticketing and travel routes through Thailand to Myanmar. Officials discovered that victims were confined and forced into cyber scam operations once they reached Laukkai. The international nature of the offense, combined with digital enticement and cross-border movement, made this racket especially insidious. The Surat police have identified 11 individuals in the case and are continuing to trace their network.

Details of the Investigation

Surat police have named 11 individuals in the case and continue to trace their network. Investigators revealed that the syndicate operated like a corporate-style chain, with recruiters, transporters, and handlers each playing a role. The first layer of the racket lured victims with promises of high-paying jobs in Gulf countries and Southeast Asia. Once the victims signed up, a second layer managed their movement across states, often using forged documents to bypass airport checks or border scrutiny.

Police said that the accused arrested in Punjab acted as middlemen, collecting victims and handing them over to cross-border traffickers. Among the 11 named, at least four are suspected to have direct ties with operators based in Myanmar’s Laukkai region, where victims were coerced into cybercrime rackets targeting international citizens. Authorities are also checking whether money transfers linked to this network passed through shell companies in Delhi and Mumbai.

Investigators stressed that unearthing the entire financial trail remains critical. They are currently mapping bank accounts, UPI transactions, and foreign remittances connected to the named suspects. Early findings suggest that the group siphoned more than ₹10 crore over the past year by exploiting vulnerable young people.

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