By HT Correspondent, Agra — Updated on Oct 28, 2025
A new racket has come to light with the arrest of two people.
Unemployed youths from India were charged ₹3–4 lakh in the name of job opportunities abroad and sent to countries including Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, where they were reportedly “sold” for $3,000 – $4,000 per person to groups involved in cyber fraud operations — a practice officials call cyber slavery. Hindustan Times
If the victims objected to the situation and sought to return to India, they were reportedly released only after paying ₹3 lakh.
The racket was exposed during an investigation after complaints were registered with the cyber cell in Agra, police said.
Additional Police Commissioner Aditya said at a press briefing that with the rise in cybercrime, cases of cyber slavery are also coming up. The case was registered and two arrests were made — Mohd Atif Khan and Ajay Shukla — under sections of the Bharatiya Nyayya Sanhita (BNS) relating to trafficking of persons, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.
Police found that agents in India were sending job-seekers to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam after charging hefty sums. One of the accused, Ajay Shukla, had sent two youths from Agra to Cambodia in November 2024, where they were transferred to a company involved in cyber fraud. When they objected, ₹3 lakh was demanded for their return, officials said.
The ACP said that in various cases, victims sought help from the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which facilitated some safe returns.
Authorities also revealed that Mohd Atif had been in Cambodia from 2022 until May 2025 and was alleged to have sold more than 50 such youths to cyber fraudsters there. Officials suggested the racket could be worth ₹500 crore, given its scale.
Atif was arrested in Unnao, and Shukla was arrested in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. A third arrest has been made in Maharashtra, with the accused being brought to Agra once court orders are finalized.