Police cracks down on global flesh trade racket, 3 arrested

Mumbai: The Mumbai crime branch has busted an international racket of flesh trade in which women from India and neighbouring countries were being sent to gulf countries under the pretext of job and supplied for flesh trade. The officials of Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) said that at least 40 women from India mostly from Rajasthan, Bangladesh, Nepal, had been rescued but more women are likely to be still stuck overseas.

The officers arrested Mohammad Anwar Shaikh (56), Tinku Raj (36) and Farid Ul Haq Aziz (55).

The racket came to light when the complainant, a woman from Rajasthan, was approached by a woman seeking job. The complainant introduced her to the trio, who were known to her as agents who were in need of people for working overseas.

The woman was subsequently pushed into flesh trade and the employer also confiscated her passport. The woman informed about her ordeal to her family however, she could not leave, as she did not have her passport. She also contacted Shaikh seeking her return.

“The accused however extorted '2 lakh from her for giving her passport back and for her safe release,” said an officer of AEC.