Human trafficking: NIA arrests foreign national from Kerala

The accused identified as Saudi Zakir illegally crossed into India via Benapole at the Indo-Bangladesh border and had moved to Bellandur area in Bengaluru city of Karnataka, before fleeing to Kochi in Kerala when NIA launched the manhunt.

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a foreign national from Kerala in a case related to human trafficking, an official said on Friday.

Saudi Zakir, who illegally entered into India via Bangladesh, was the 11th foreigner arrested by the federal agency following registration of the case last month, the official said.

Zakir, who had been on the run since his house in Karnataka was searched during a nationwide operation to bust the human trafficking racket in November, was traced to his hideout in Kochi in Kerala and taken into custody on Thursday, the official said.

A spokesperson of the NIA said investigations have revealed that the accused had illegally crossed into India via Benapole at the Indo-Bangladesh border and had moved to Bellandur area in Bengaluru city of Karnataka, where he had set up a waste collection and segregation unit, employing other foreign nationals who had also illegally entered into India.

The NIA had registered the human trafficking case on November 7 following credible inputs about certain Karnataka-based persons having linkages with facilitators and traffickers in Assam, Tripura and countries across the border.

The linkages were identified as part of a large network engaged in trafficking of individuals into India through the Indo-Bangladesh border, the spokesperson said.

The official said the accused were also providing fake Aadhaar cards to the individuals trafficked from across the border.

Earlier, 10 foreign nationals had been arrested by the NIA in the case, registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA is continuing its investigations in the case, aimed at dismantling the human trafficking racket being carried out through various networks active along the Indo-Bangladesh border, the spokesperson said.