Uttarakhand STF Arrests Local Agent Linked to International Human Trafficking & Cybercrime Gang

The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a local agent accused of trafficking young men to Myanmar, where they were forced to work for a major international cybercrime syndicate. The arrested agent has been identified as Sunil, a resident of Jaspur in Udham Singh Nagar district.

STF officials said Sunil played a key role in luring youths from Uttarakhand by promising high-paying jobs abroad, only to send them into the hands of cyber-fraud operators in Myanmar.

STF Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh Bhullar confirmed the arrest on Friday. He said that, with support from the central government, 21 youths from Uttarakhand—along with several others from across India—were recently rescued and brought back home from Myanmar.

Trafficked Through Bangkok, Forced Into Cybercrime

During the rescue operation and subsequent investigation, the STF found that victims were first taken from Delhi to Bangkok on the pretext of job placements. From there, they were transported illegally across jungles and rivers into the Myawaddy region of Myanmar, an area notorious for cybercrime hubs.

Once inside Myanmar, the youths were kept captive and forced to run high-pressure calling scams and online fraud operations for the syndicate.

Victim’s Complaint Leads to Breakthrough

The investigation gained momentum after Mohammad Azam, a youth from Jaspur, filed a complaint at the local police station on Thursday. Based on his statement, the STF arrested Sunil.

According to SSP Bhullar, Sunil had deceived Azam by offering him a job with a promised salary of ₹70,000 per month. After landing in Bangkok, however, Azam was handed over to traffickers and smuggled into Myanmar by boat through remote forest routes.

There, he was forced to make scam calls for the cyber syndicate.

Demand for Ransom & Dramatic Escape

Azam managed to contact his father from Myanmar and narrated his ordeal. When his father confronted Sunil and demanded his return, Sunil allegedly asked for ₹4 lakh as ransom.

Despite the odds, Azam escaped on October 22 and reached the Myanmar border, where he approached Army personnel. They immediately alerted the Indian Embassy, leading to the safe rescue of Azam and 20 other Indians trapped in similar conditions.

More Arrests Likely

Using information provided by Azam and other sources, the STF arrested Sunil and is now tracking his links to the larger international network.

Officials said more arrests are expected as the investigation continues into the trafficking route and the cybercrime syndicate operating from Myanmar.