Days after two Indians died in the Russia-Ukraine war, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) started a probe into human trafficking networks which allegedly lured these Indians to the war zone by promising them lucrative jobs.
Officials told CNN-News18 that CBI on Wednesday registered a case against various visa consultancy firms and agents on allegations of hiring and sending youths to the Russia-Ukraine war zone in the guise of lucrative jobs. The human trafficking network of these agents is spread over several states across the country.
It has been learnt that searches were conducted at more than 13 locations across the country, including Delhi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai.
“So far over Rs 50 lakhs, incriminating documents, electronic records like laptops, mobiles, desktops, etc. have been seized,” a CBI officer informed.
According to CBI, these traffickers have been operating in an organised network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels and through their local contacts or agents for highly paid jobs in Russia.