Mumbai Court Allows Arrest in High-Stakes Human Trafficking Probe

A special Mumbai court has sanctioned the formal arrest of Jerry Phillips Jacob and Godafi Alvarez, accused in an international human trafficking racket. Indians were reportedly lured to Thailand and Cambodia with false job promises and subjected to harsh conditions. The NIA is extending the probe on the case.

A special court in Mumbai on Monday allowed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to formally arrest two individuals in connection with an international human trafficking racket. The case involves luring Indians, primarily men aged 20-45, to countries such as Thailand and Cambodia with the promise of high-paying jobs, where they were then subjected to torture and slavery.

The individuals, identified as Jerry Phillips Jacob (46) and Godafi Alvarez (39), were initially arrested by Mumbai police in March. They were accused of sending Indians to Thailand under false pretenses, where they were held hostage in dire conditions. Following a recent takeover of the probe by the NIA citing international links, these arrests have been formally sanctioned by Special NIA Judge AK Lahoti.

Representing the NIA, Special Public Prosecutor Sundeep Sadawarte highlighted the gravity of the situation and the international scope of the trafficking racket. The court, however, reserved its decision on granting the NIA custody for further investigation. The accused's defense argued that the charges were based on information provided voluntarily by the victim and contested the linkage of call data records as evidence.

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