Jaishankar informs Parliament of extensive efforts to combat cyber crime and trafficking across Southeast Asia
The Indian government is taking decisive steps to address the issue of cyber trafficking, which has led to the illegal trafficking of Indian nationals to Southeast Asian countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that the government has successfully repatriated a significant number of citizens who were coerced into working in cyber scam operations.
During the Question Hour, Jaishankar revealed that 650 Indian nationals have been repatriated from Cambodia, 415 from Myanmar, and 548 from Laos. He emphasised that the government has raised this issue with the concerned governments at the political level and is taking the matter very seriously.
“We take this very seriously. We have taken it up with all the concerned governments at a political level,” Jaishankar stated in response to a query from Congress MP Adoor Prakash regarding cyber trafficking. He stressed that the government is vigilant and committed to cracking down on the illegal activities of recruiting agents involved in this exploitation.
Jaishankar also highlighted that recruiting agents who have been found violating laws will face prosecution. “The recruiting agents whose details have been mentioned on the portal will not be allowed to continue in business, and prosecution will be initiated against those involved in any criminal activities or violations of the law,” he said.
Addressing the issue of illegal agencies misleading Indian nationals, Jaishankar noted that cases are being handled differently depending on the region. For instance, cases related to Russia are being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with arrests already made and prosecutions underway.
In the case of Southeast Asia, the government has directed state authorities to initiate prosecution against agents where evidence of wrongdoing exists. Jaishankar added, “A bulk of the cases we have on our portal involve recruiting agents who have violated the rules. These agents will not be allowed to continue in this business, and wherever there is evidence of criminality, they will be prosecuted.”
In July, Jaishankar raised the issue of trafficking with the Prime Minister of Laos and discussed the relief and rescue of trafficked Indian nationals with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand. The EAM acknowledged the ongoing cooperation from the Lao PDR government in the rescue efforts.
This multi-pronged approach underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding Indian nationals and ensuring justice for those who have been victims of cyber trafficking.
