Bangladeshi human trafficking godfathers operating from Iran

These criminal godfathers operate around 300 traffickers, doing so for about 20-25 years from their base in Iran

human traffic

 Bangladeshi criminal kingpins have been running an Iran-based human trafficking network that lures migrant labourers to European countries with job offers, takes them hostage in Iran and extorts ransom from their relatives in Bangladesh, according to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

These criminal godfathers operate around 300 traffickers, doing so for about 20-25 years from their base in Iran.

“We recently learned that around 15 Bangladeshi godfathers of a human trafficking network have been operating in Iran, and we plan to set up a temporary camp there to capture them,” said Md Shah Alam, additional deputy inspector general of CID (organised crime), while talking to the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday.

He said the traffickers use their agents in Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE to allure migrants with the promise of lucrative jobs in European countries like Turkey, Italy and Greece.

The traffickers then take the migrants to Iran and confine them there to collect ransom from the hostages’ families in Bangladesh, receiving ransom payments through bKash, SA Paribahan and in cash, he added.

The CID, with the assistance of Rights Jessore, a non-government organisation, repatriated over 100 trafficking victims and arrested a number of traffickers, he said.

“We have learned from various sources, including the trafficking suspects and victims, that the godfathers of this human trafficking league have been in Iran for about 20-25 years,” said the CID official.

The alleged bosses of the abduction syndicate include Nannu Mia and his brother Maruf Mia from Sylhet, Rabiul Islam alias Orphy Manik from Chandpur, Musa from Habiganj and Mesbah from Sylhet.

The additional deputy inspector general said victims were not able to seek help because of the collusion of Iranians paid off by the cartel. Even when hostages managed to flee from their abductors, Iranian citizens turned them in to the traffickers instead of contacting police.

“We plan to set up a temporary camp in Iran so that victims can make complaints to us,” Shah Alam said.

After verifying the complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) will be lodged and then cases will be filed with the concerned police station.

“Through Interpol, we hope to conduct operations with the help of local police, and if the godfathers are arrested, we will take apart their network,” he said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune