In a dramatic twist to an international human trafficking and cyber fraud investigation, a key agent of the network was arrested by Tamil Nadu's cyber crime wing upon his return to Chennai, where he was attempting to blend in with actual victims of the racket.
From Recruiter to Fake Victim: The Agent's Deception
The man, whose role was uncovered during Phase II of Operation 'Blue Triangle', had originally lured job-seeking youngsters from Tamil Nadu with promises of lucrative telecaller jobs in Bangkok, Thailand. However, upon arrival, he handed them over to Chinese cybercriminals. These victims were then forced under threat and physical assault to create fraudulent social media accounts and run online scams.
His arrest followed a major crackdown by the Myanmar Army, which raided a cyber scam compound in Myawaddy run by transnational syndicates. This compound had recruited several Indian youths under false pretenses. When the raid occurred, many trafficked workers and operators fled. The arrested agent was among a group of 29 individuals who escaped via an illegal ferry from Myanmar into Thailand before making their way back to India.
Forensic Investigation Exposes the Truth
Posing as a victim, the man reached Delhi on November 18 and landed in Chennai on November 19. He claimed to be a victim who had traveled from Chennai to Bangkok on May 4, only to be kidnapped and forced into cybercrime. However, forensic checks, interrogations, and field investigations led by Superintendent of Police I. Shahnaz revealed glaring inconsistencies in his story.
A review of his passport and digital footprint showed he had made multiple trips between Chennai, Thailand, and Myanmar. Evidence confirmed he played a central role in recruiting more than two dozen Indians into the cyber scam operations. Further damning testimony came from some of the genuine returnees, who disclosed that the agent had threatened them not to reveal his involvement to authorities.
Wider Network and Ongoing Investigations
This arrest is part of a larger rescue operation that saw 395 Indian nationals freed from the Myawaddy compound in recent raids. Intelligence gathered from these returnees led to the registration of three First Information Reports (FIRs) at the State Cyber Crime Investigation Centre, Tambaram city police, and Madurai district police. These FIRs have helped identify additional agents operating across Tamil Nadu.
Police stated that investigations are actively continuing to trace the wider network. This includes hunting down other recruiters on the ground, the financial conduits funding the operations, and the overseas handlers who are ultimately responsible for pushing Indians into forced cybercrime labor in foreign countries.
