Maharashtra Cyber Rescues Over 60 Victims of Cyber Slavery from Myanmar

In a significant breakthrough against transnational cybercrime, the Maharashtra Cyber Department has rescued over 60 Indian nationals who were trafficked to Myanmar under the false promise of overseas employment and forced into large-scale cyber fraud operations. Many of the victims are reported to be from Maharashtra and were lured through deceptive job offers shared on social media platforms.

According to Maharashtra Cyber, which functions under the Office of the Additional Director General of Police as the state’s nodal agency for cybercrime enforcement, the victims were approached by agents on job-related groups on Telegram and Instagram. These agents offered high-paying job opportunities abroad and arranged the victims’ travel and documentation, typically sending them to Thailand on tourist visas.

Upon reaching Thailand, the victims were taken on long road journeys to the Thai-Myanmar border, then ferried across a river in small boats into Myanmar. Once there, they were transported to compounds guarded by armed rebel groups, where they were forced to sign one-year contracts with fraudulent companies.

Inside these compounds, the individuals were made to work for cybercrime syndicates involved in complex scams such as digital arrest fraud and fake investment schemes. The criminal organisation operated in a hierarchical structure: lower-level workers pretended to be women to initiate contact with victims, mid-level operatives impersonated law enforcement officers, and senior fraudsters executed the final stages of the scams, siphoning money from targets around the world. Agents facilitating the trafficking reportedly earned as much as $1,000 per person. "

Victims also reported being fined for any actions considered inappropriate by the supervisors, with deductions taken directly from their salaries, often without a clear limit. In addition to financial penalties, they were subjected to physical punishments such as being made to run laps around the compound. Several victims said they witnessed acts of torture being carried out to instil fear and ensure obedience.

Following the rescue, Maharashtra Cyber launched a detailed investigation that has uncovered the roles of several individuals and companies posing as legitimate recruitment agencies. Three First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Five people have been arrested so far. Among them is Manish Grey, also known as Maddy, an Indian national and character actor who has featured in television and web series. He is believed to have played a central role in recruiting victims and facilitating their movement to Myanmar under the pretext of employment opportunities in Thailand.

Other arrested individuals include Taisan alias Aaditya Ravi Chandran, Rupnarayan Ramdhar Gupta, and Jensi Rani D, all Indian nationals. Also in custody is Talaniti Nulaxi, a Chinese/Kazakhstani national who was reportedly planning to establish a cybercrime unit in India.

The investigation is ongoing, with statements being recorded from the rescued individuals in an effort to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the cyber slavery network. Authorities believe several more fraudulent agents and shell companies may be involved.

In response to the findings, Maharashtra Cyber has issued a strong advisory, warning citizens to exercise caution when evaluating job offers from abroad. The public is urged to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies and promptly report any suspicious activity to the authorities.