New Delhi
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Sunday the arrest of Mohamed Imran Khan, also known as Haja Najerbheeden. Khan, a notorious smuggler with a long history of illegal activities in the region, is a key figure in the Sri Lankan human trafficking case. Khan, aged 39 and a resident of Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu, had been on the run since June 2021. The NIA’s Absconder Tracking Team (ATT) apprehended him from an undisclosed location in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. Khan’s arrest came after months of monitoring his movements by the ATT Bengaluru. He was wanted by multiple law enforcement agencies for his involvement in various illicit operations. Preliminary investigations revealed that Khan, in collaboration with a Sri Lankan national named Eesan, who was formerly associated with the LTTE, devised a plan to illegally transport 38 Sri Lankan nationals from their home country to various locations within Tamil Nadu. These individuals were lured with false promises, including the prospect of obtaining legitimate documentation for emigrating to Canada and securing employment opportunities. Khan, along with other co-accused, trafficked these Sri Lankan nationals to various locations in Bengaluru and Mangaluru. The probe uncovered Khan’s pivotal role in a broader conspiracy involving international human trafficking. He acted as the main conduit responsible for transporting Sri Lankan nationals from their home country to India and subsequently to other nations. Khan’s arrest represents a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the human trafficking case and the illegal activities associated with it.
