Key Highlights
- CBI arrests alleged kingpin linked to trafficking Indians into Myanmar scam camps.
- Victims forced to run crypto, romance, and digital arrest fraud schemes.
- The probe expands into a wider network spanning Southeast Asia and multiple countries.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Mumbai-based individual accused of playing a central role in a trafficking network linked to cyber scam operations in Myanmar.
According to the official announcement, the accused, identified as Sunil Nellathu Ramakrishnan, was taken into custody after returning to India. Investigators describe him as a key facilitator who helped move victims into scam compounds operating in Southeast Asia.
Crypto scams at the core of operations
Authorities said trafficked individuals were coerced into running multiple types of scams, including cryptocurrency investment frauds, romance scams, and so-called “digital arrest” schemes.
These operations targeted victims globally, using scripted interactions and digital tools to extract funds, often in crypto. Testimonies collected from rescued individuals indicate conditions involving confinement, intimidation, and restricted movement within the facilities.
Victims lured with fake job offers
According to investigators, the network targeted Indian job seekers with promises of employment in Thailand. Victims were flown to Bangkok and then diverted across borders into Myanmar.
Once inside these compounds, particularly in the Myawaddy region’s KK Park area, individuals were allegedly forced to participate in various online fraud operations.
Evidence seized, network under probe
Searches conducted at the accused’s residence led to the recovery of digital evidence linked to trafficking routes and scam infrastructure across Myanmar and Cambodia.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify additional operatives, including foreign nationals believed to be part of the network.
Wider crackdown on “cyber slavery” networks
The case forms part of a broader effort by Indian agencies to dismantle trafficking rings tied to online fraud hubs across Southeast Asia. Parallel investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have uncovered similar networks operating across multiple Indian states, with links extending to countries such as the UAE, Cambodia, and Laos.
Authorities have also relied on testimonies from individuals who managed to escape these compounds and return to India in 2025, helping map the structure and methods used by such groups.
Increasing crypto-linked crimes
Recent cases suggest the problem extends beyond overseas scam hubs. Authorities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have reported a new wave of investment frauds tied to crypto and stock trading, with losses exceeding ₹2.68 crore.
In one case, a businessman from Khammam allegedly lost over ₹2.05 crore after being drawn into a forex and crypto scheme initiated through WhatsApp. Investigators said the operation followed a familiar pattern: small initial returns to build trust, followed by demands for larger deposits.
Separately, the Enforcement Directorate recently seized cryptocurrency worth about ₹2.5 crore during raids in West Bengal linked to an alleged call centre fraud targeting foreign nationals.
Taken together, these cases highlight how crypto-linked fraud networks operate at multiple levels, from local investment scams to cross-border trafficking operations tied to organized cybercrime.
Also Read: Dark Web, Tor, Crypto Wallets: Indian Police Begins New Cyber Training
