The CBI arrested Mumbai’s Sunil Nellathu Ramakrishnan, a key kingpin accused of trafficking Indians to Myanmar. Victims were lured with fake job offers, then forced to work in cyber scam centres under duress and physical abuse.
CBI Arrests Key Kingpin in Trafficking Ring
The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested Sunil Nellathu Ramakrishnan, a resident of Mumbai for his alleged involvement as a key kingpin in trafficking unsuspecting Indian citizens to cyber scam compounds in Myanmar, particularly in the Myawaddy region.
Syndicate’s Modus Operandi
According to an official release of CBI, investigations have revealed the existence of organised transnational criminal syndicates that lure victims on the pretext of lucrative job opportunities in Thailand.
The victims were initially transported from Delhi to Bangkok and thereafter clandestinely diverted to Myanmar, where they were forced to work in cyber scam centres.
Exploitation in Cyber Scam Centres
At these facilities, victims were coerced into engaging in various cyber frauds, including “digital arrest” scams, romance frauds, and cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting victims across the globe, including India.
The trafficked individuals were subjected to wrongful confinement, constant intimidation, physical and mental abuse, and severe restrictions on their movement.
Investigation Sparked by Escaped Victims
As per the release, during 2025, several Indian nationals managed to escape from these scam compounds and reached Thailand, from where they were repatriated to India in March and November 2025.
The CBI conducted detailed interviews of these victims to understand the modus operandi of the trafficking networks and the functioning of these cyber fraud centres.
Arrest of Main Facilitator
Acting upon the intelligence gathered, the CBI carried out sustained and meticulous investigation to identify key operatives behind these activities.
Sunil (alias Krish) emerged as one of main facilitator and kingpin in the trafficking network, playing a crucial role in the illegal transportation and exploitation of victims in Southeast Asia.
The movements of the accused were kept under close surveillance. He has been arrested by CBI in Mumbai after he recently came back to India.
Subsequently, searches were conducted at his residential premises, leading to the seizure of incriminating digital evidence linked to trafficking operations in Myanmar and Cambodia.
Ongoing Probe and Future Actions
The official release has stated that “CBI is continuing its investigation to identify and apprehend other accused persons, including foreign nationals, involved in the transnational trafficking network, and to uncover the full extent of these operations”.
CBI remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantling cybercrime syndicates and protecting Indian citizens from such organized criminal exploitation. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)