Human Trafficking is Driven by Organized Criminal Networks: Maharashtra Top Police
This global initiative was established by the United Nations to raise awareness about human trafficking and protect the rights of victims.
Pune: Aswati Dorje, Additional Director General of Police of Maharashtra state, said that human trafficking was a grave violation of human rights and explained the legal safeguards provided under Article 23 of the Constitution and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA).
“Trafficking is driven by well-organized criminal networks that exploit vulnerable individuals through deception, coercion, and false promises,” she said, stressing that victims are never at fault.
Dorje was speaking to students as chief guest at Wilson College in Mumbai, which had organized an event, titled "United Against Human Trafficking: Awareness, Prevention, and Online Safety" to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30. Harmony Foundation and The Exodus Road India Foundation were the collaborators of the event.
This global initiative was established by the United Nations to raise awareness about human trafficking and protect the rights of victims.
Illustrating a case, Dorje recounted how a woman travelling to Dubai was intercepted at Mumbai airport with a fake passport and was later identified as a victim of a prostitution racket. The case underscored the importance of timely intelligence, inter-agency coordination, vigilance, and early intervention in preventing human trafficking, the police officer noted.
Dorje also warned of the emerging threat of cyber slavery and scam compounds, where young people are lured abroad with fraudulent job offers and subsequently trafficked to countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia, where they are forced to carry out online scams.
“Trafficking is rapidly evolving through digital platforms,” she explained, sharing with students’ various helpline numbers available to report cybercrime and seek assistance.
Dr. Abraham Mathai, founder-chairman of the Harmony Foundation and former vice-chairman of Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, underscored the vital role of dedicated law enforcement officers in the fight against exploitation.
He highlighted the 2025 rescue of a 12-year-old girl trafficked from Bangladesh, who had endured the horrific ordeal of sexual exploitation at the hands of more than 200 men over a period of three months.
Her rescue was the result of a successful joint operation between the Harmony Foundation, The Exodus Road India Foundation, and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the MBVV Police, Mumbai, under the personal supervision of Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik.
"Behind every rescue is a story of survival, behind every re-unification is a family whose hope has been restored, and behind every survivor is a community that chose to care," Dr Mathai noted.
The Exodus Road India Foundation presented a compelling session on digital safety. As traffickers increasingly exploit social media platforms and fraudulent job portals to recruit victims, the session focused on recognizing digital red flags and adopting safe online practices.
Using the example of scam compounds, the presentation highlighted the methods used by traffickers and outlined practical preventive measures to help protect young people seeking employment opportunities.