A Kenyan was arrested in India for allegedly being part of a syndicate trafficking African girls to the Asian nation and other foreign countries.
According to reports, the man allegedly lured the girls, promising them lucrative jobs in the hospitality industry in India, only to sell them into illegal activities.
Police revealed that the Kenyan citizen had travelled to India with a student visa. It was, however, not disclosed whether the visa expired and he was in the country illegally.
To compound his case, police further alleged that he was also involved in a money laundering scheme alongside two Nigerian nationals and an Israeli. The fraudulent operation was further linked to human trafficking.
The suspect, who reportedly managed numerous accounts, was said to receive money through mobile money or bank accounts for alibis involved in the illegal activity. The money was then transferred to Kenya and other countries.
Police suspected that the funds were transferred through rogue hawala operators. Hawala is an informal money transfer process declared illegal in India.
According to India's Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), anyone found guilty of engaging in hawala faces a penalty of up to three times the money involved.
Meanwhile, the suspect will remain in police custody before being presented before a special PMLA court.
In September, Kenyan women allegedly running a sex syndicate in India were arrested, highlighting an influx in human trafficking cases.
Police revealed that the women promised jobseekers lucrative ventures in India, only to change the terms and conditions of their agreement after arrival. The suspects were said to confiscate the passports and visas of their victims and sell them to willing buyers.
During a raid conducted by the police, five women were rescued as the crackdown on illegal sexual activities increased.
As of 2022, 556 trafficking victims had been identified by the Indian government.
