India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an absconding accused in a Sri Lankan human trafficking case following his deportation from Sri Lanka and handover to Indian authorities.
The accused was arrested by an NIA team at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on November 13, after Sri Lankan authorities detained him pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of the NIA.
According to the investigating agency, he was allegedly involved in a conspiracy to traffic Sri Lankan nationals by promising to facilitate their migration to Canada using valid travel documents.
He allegedly collected money from the victims' family members and relatives before transferring the funds through hawala channels to co-accused persons in India to facilitate the trafficking and illegal confinement of the victims.
The case dates back to 2021, when police conducted raids at several premises in Mangaluru following credible information and discovered a number of Sri Lankan nationals staying there without valid documents.
A case was initially registered under Crime No. 103/2021, invoking relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act.
The NIA subsequently took over the investigation and re-registered the case in July 2021 under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 370 (trafficking of persons) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC, Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and Section 12(1A) of the Passport Act.
The agency said two other absconding accused in the case had previously been arrested in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Both are currently facing trial before the Special Court for NIA Cases in Bengaluru.
The latest arrest marks another development in the ongoing investigation into the alleged trafficking network involving Sri Lankan nationals and promises of migration to Canada.
– with Agencies inputs --
