A key agent allegedly involved in trafficking Indian youth to Cambodia has been arrested by the Telangana Cyber ​​Security Bureau (TGCSB).

Sadakat Khan, 37, a resident of Taumikpur village in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport while returning from the Maldives.

This is the fourth arrest of this type. Police had earlier arrested K. Sai Prasad from Jagtial, Mohammed Abid Hussain Ansari from Pune and Mohd. Shadab Alam from Bihar, who were involved in orchestrating this operation.

The arrest followed a complaint filed by the mother of a victim from Sircilla on May 16, 2024. The victim was brought back to Telangana in April.

Investigation revealed that the four agents lured the victim with “tech work” in Cambodia and collected ₹1,40,000 as processing, registration and visa fees from him. After being sent there, he was forced to commit cybercrimes, working 16 to 17 hours a day, with his passport confiscated by the agents, police said.

After the victim was brought back, he revealed to the police that around 500-600 Indians were also forced to commit online fraud in the same company as his.

“These agents in India lure job seekers with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, collecting substantial sums in the form of processing, registration and visa fees. Once they arrive in Cambodia, the victims are handed over to Chinese masters who train them to deceive people, mainly Indians, through various fraudulent schemes,” explained Shikha Goel, director of TGCSB.

Any resistance from victims leads to physical violence and confinement. After months of exploitation, the manipulators extort new sums of money, often demanding payment in bitcoins, thereby threatening the lives of the victims.

The TGCSB issued a notice warning citizens to check job postings before making payments or arranging travel. Police advised citizens to consult local authorities or the embassy regarding the destination country.