A concerning report has brought to light a significant issue: official statistics reveal that 29,466 Indians who traveled to Southeast Asia—specifically Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam—on visitor visas between January 2022 and May 2024 have not returned. The majority of these individuals are aged between 20 and 39, with males constituting a substantial portion of the cases (21,182). Disturbingly, over one-third of the missing persons originate from only three states: Punjab, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Thailand emerges as the epicenter of this alarming situation, accounting for more than 69 percent of the disappearances, totaling 20,450 individuals. The Bureau of Immigration, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has gathered this information as part of a broader investigation into what has been termed “cyber slavery.” Reports indicate that many of these individuals are enticed to Southeast Asia with promises of attractive job offers, only to find themselves coerced into engaging in cybercrime activities, including fraudulent operations, under pressure.
In light of this crisis, the Indian government has established a high-level inter-ministerial task force, which includes members from the MHA, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This task force is responsible for conducting on-the-ground verifications across various states to locate the missing individuals and mitigate further exploitation. Furthermore, authorities are exploring ways to enhance systems within India’s immigration, banking, and telecommunications sectors to more effectively identify and prevent such incidents.
States and Airports Most Affected
The analysis of missing persons at the state level indicates that, in addition to Punjab, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, significant figures are also reported from Uttar Pradesh (2,946), Kerala (2,659), and Delhi (2,140). Furthermore, other states such as Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Telangana, and Rajasthan have experienced hundreds of their residents going missing.
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is identified as the leading departure point, with a total of 12,493 individuals departing from this airport. Other prominent airports, including those in Mumbai (4,699), Kolkata (2,395), and Kochi (2,296), have also recorded considerable numbers of individuals leaving the country without returning.
A Growing Threat of ‘Cyber Slavery’
The phenomenon of missing Indians in Southeast Asia has sparked considerable alarm regarding what has been termed a variant of ‘cyber slavery.’ Reports indicate that thousands of Indians are being compelled to participate in cybercrime activities, predominantly focused on online fraud.
Victims are often lured with promises of data entry positions or other legitimate employment, only to find themselves coerced into engaging in deceptive practices, such as promoting fraudulent cryptocurrency initiatives.
Since the beginning of 2023, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has observed a notable increase in cybercrimes emanating from Southeast Asia. It is estimated that 45 percent of the cybercrimes directed at Indian citizens can be traced back to this area.
Data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal reveals that approximately 100,000 complaints related to cybercrime have been lodged in the past year.
A primary strategy employed by these criminal organizations involves compelling victims to create counterfeit social media profiles, frequently utilizing stolen images of women, to entice unsuspecting individuals into fraudulent investment schemes. Once the targets have invested, they are either blocked or ignored, leaving them defrauded and without any means of recourse.
Task Force Identifies Key Gaps
The inter-ministerial committee examining this matter has uncovered multiple deficiencies within India’s current frameworks that have permitted these offenses to thrive. Notable among these are vulnerabilities in the immigration procedures, banking systems, and telecommunications networks, which have unintentionally enabled the exploitation of Indian citizens overseas.
The Bureau of Immigration has been instructed to implement strategies aimed at identifying individuals who may be vulnerable prior to their departure from the country. Furthermore, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is developing initiatives to mitigate the exodus of individuals susceptible to trafficking or coercion into unlawful activities.
In recent discussions, government representatives have underscored the importance of establishing robust systems to avert such incidents in the future. Security agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), are collaborating closely to apprehend those responsible for these transnational criminal networks.
Survivors Share Their Harrowing Stories
Several individuals who have successfully evaded these criminal enterprises have recounted their harrowing experiences. One survivor described how he was enticed to Cambodia with the deceptive assurance of a data entry position, only to have his passport seized immediately upon his arrival.
Calls for Greater International Cooperation
As inquiries progress, the Indian government is advising individuals pursuing job opportunities overseas, especially in Southeast Asia, to exercise caution. Officials are advocating for enhanced collaboration between India and Southeast Asian nations to dismantle these criminal syndicates and avert further exploitation. The rising phenomenon of ‘cyber slavery’ and the victimization of Indian citizens underscore the necessity for more robust preventive strategies, both domestically and internationally, to safeguard at-risk individuals from becoming victims of these nefarious activities.
