New Delhi, February 28: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday apprehended a key absconding accused, Mohamed Ibrahim, for his involvement in trafficking Sri Lankan nationals into India under false promises of employment in Canada.
Ibrahim, who had non-bailable warrants issued against him, was arrested in Chennai with the assistance of the Tamil Nadu Police, according to an official statement.
His arrest marks the ninth in the case, which was initially registered by the NIA on July 13, 2021. A total of ten individuals, including another absconder, Imran Hajjyar, have been chargesheeted so far.
Trafficking Network and Modus Operandi
Investigations revealed that Ibrahim played a crucial role in smuggling Sri Lankan nationals through Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. He was responsible for facilitating the movement of two separate batches of victims from Mandapam in the Thoothukudi sea shore area. The trafficked individuals were later transported to different locations in Karnataka using various modes of transport, including trains and private vehicles.The trafficking network’s operations followed a structured pattern, where victims were picked up from mid-sea and transferred in batches to small boats. From there, they were moved through land routes to concealed holding areas before further transit.
Case Background and Ongoing Investigations
The case was originally registered by the Karnataka Police after credible intelligence led to raids on guest houses in Mangalore, where Sri Lankan nationals without valid documents were discovered. Following these revelations, the NIA took over the investigation.Authorities continue efforts to track down the remaining accused linked to the human trafficking syndicate.