The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made the latest arrest in a human trafficking case that was exposed last month through nationwide raids, bringing the total number of apprehended individuals to 11, the agency reported on Friday.
Saudi Zakir, an absconder who had eluded authorities since his residence was searched by the NIA last month, was tracked down to his hideout in Kochi (Kerala) on Thursday and taken into custody. Investigations revealed that Zakir had illegally entered India through the India-Bangladesh border, establishing a waste collection center and segregation unit at his Kochi residence.
The NIA detailed, “Investigations have revealed that the accused illegally crossed into India via Benapole at the Indo-Bangladesh border. He had moved to the Bellandur area in Bengaluru city of Karnataka, where he had set up a Waste Collection and Segregation Unit and employed other foreign nationals who had also illegally crossed over into India through the border.”
The NIA initiated a human trafficking case on November 7 based on credible information about individuals in Karnataka having connections with facilitators and traffickers in Assam, Tripura, and neighboring countries. The network was identified as part of a large-scale operation involved in trafficking individuals into India through the Indo-Bangladesh border, further providing them with fake Aadhar cards, as per investigations.
Earlier, the NIA had arrested ten foreign nationals in connection with the case, charging them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The agency continues its investigations with the aim of dismantling the human trafficking racket orchestrated by various networks along the Indo-Bangladesh border.