Background and Timeline
In January 2026, Visakhapatnam cybercrime police arrested G. Manikanta, an agent from Konaseema, for trafficking unemployed youth into cyber slavery. The case came to light after victims, rescued and repatriated through the Indian Embassy, filed complaints detailing their ordeal in Chinese-run scam centers across Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangkok, and Laos.
Modus Operandi
Victims were contacted via Telegram and interviewed online for purported high-paying data entry jobs abroad. Once recruited, they were sent overseas and forced to work in cyber fraud operations managed by Chinese nationals. The trafficked individuals were compelled to manage fake social media profiles, lure targets into scams, and endure severe punishments—including physical abuse and psychological coercion—if they resisted or failed to meet quotas.
Victims and Financial Impact
The exact number of victims is unclear, but the case is part of a broader trend of Indian youth being trafficked to Southeast Asia for cybercrime. Victims reported being sold to scam centers for $3,500 each, with agents in India receiving commissions for every recruit. The financial impact includes both the losses suffered by the trafficked individuals and the proceeds generated by the scam centers through global fraud operations.
Investigation and Agencies Involved
The Visakhapatnam police, in coordination with the Indian Embassy and international law enforcement, led the investigation. The operation involved rescuing victims from Myanmar following a military raid in October 2025 and repatriating them to India. The case has prompted warnings about evolving recruitment tactics, with syndicates now using Indians already based abroad to lure new victims.
Arrests and Suspects
Manikanta was remanded to judicial custody, with further investigations underway to identify additional recruiters and dismantle the trafficking network. The case has exposed the role of local agents in facilitating international cyber slavery and highlighted the need for cross-border cooperation to combat human trafficking for cybercrime.
Broader Implications and Trends
This incident underscores the intersection of human trafficking and cybercrime, with Indian youth increasingly targeted for exploitation in Southeast Asian scam centers. The use of AI-generated deepfakes, psychological manipulation, and forced labor reflects the growing sophistication of cyber slavery operations. The case has spurred calls for enhanced victim protection, international collaboration, and stricter regulation of overseas job placements.