The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended four individuals on Tuesday in connection with a case involving the trafficking of Indian nationals for military duties in the Russian Army.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the CBI announced that two suspects, identified as Arun and Yesudas Junior, were apprehended in Kerala on March 6 of this year, while the other two, Nijil Jobi Bensam and Anthony Michael Elangovan, were captured in Mumbai. The agency stated that the investigation is ongoing into other individuals implicated in this international human trafficking network.
On March 6, 2024, the CBI dismantled a significant human trafficking ring operating nationwide in India, specifically targeting vulnerable youths with promises of lucrative employment opportunities overseas. These traffickers utilized social media platforms such as YouTube, as well as local contacts or agents, to entice Indian citizens with high-paying jobs in Russia.
“Thereafter, the trafficked Indian Nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes, thus, putting their lives in grave danger,” the CBI press release noted.
“It has been ascertained that some of the victims also got grievously injured in the war zone. A case of human trafficking was registered against private Visa Consultancy Firms and agents who were involved in the trafficking of Indian Nationals to Russia under the guise of better employment and high-paying jobs. The human trafficking network of these agents is spread over several States across the country and beyond,” it added.
Significantly, Nijil Jobi Bensam, a key member of the network, worked in Russia on a contractual basis as a translator, playing a crucial role in facilitating the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian Army. On the other hand, Michael Anthony assisted his co-accused Faisal Baba, located in Dubai, and others in Russia by coordinating visa processing in Chennai and arranging air travel for victims bound for Russia. Meanwhile, Arun and Yesudas Junior, the main recruiters operating in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, were responsible for enlisting Indian nationals for service in the Russian Army, according to the release.