The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Mumbai-based man who is allegedly a key leader in the smuggling of Indian nationals to cyber fraud complexes in Myanmar, the agency said on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the agency, Sunil Neelathu Ramakrishnan alias Krish has emerged as one of the key facilitators and ringleaders in the trafficking network, playing a crucial role in the illegal transportation and exploitation of victims in Southeast Asia.
“Krrish has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation for his alleged involvement as a key leader in smuggling unsuspecting Indian nationals into cyber fraud complexes in Myanmar, particularly in Myawaddy District (particularly KK Park),” the statement read.
Regarding the gang’s modus operandi, the agency said: “Investigations revealed the presence of transnational organized criminal gangs that lure victims under the pretext of lucrative job opportunities in Thailand. The victims are initially transported from Delhi to Bangkok, and are then secretly transferred to Myanmar, where they are forced to work in cyber fraud centers.”
“In these facilities, victims are forced to engage in various cyber scams, including digital arrest scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency investment schemes that target victims across the world, including India. Trafficked individuals are subjected to wrongful confinement, constant intimidation, physical and mental abuse, and severe restrictions on their movement,” the agency added.
The RBI said that several Indian nationals managed to escape from these fraud complexes and reached Thailand, from where they were repatriated to India in March and November 2025. It added that detailed interviews were conducted with these victims to understand the workings of smuggling networks and the functioning of these cyber fraud centres.
“Based on the intelligence gathered, the CBI conducted a sustained and meticulous investigation to identify the key elements behind these activities. Krish emerged as one of the key facilitators and ringleaders of the trafficking network, playing a crucial role in the illegal transportation and exploitation of victims in Southeast Asia. The movements of the accused remained under close surveillance. He was arrested by the CBI in Mumbai after his recent return to India,” a CBI spokesperson said.
Krish’s home was also searched and digital evidence incriminating him related to trafficking operations in Myanmar and Cambodia was confiscated.
The agency said: “The Central Bank of Iraq continues its investigations to identify and arrest other defendants, including foreign nationals, involved in the transnational trafficking network, and to reveal the full scope of these operations.”
