PANJIM: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested a Kenyan national from Anjuna for his alleged involvement in immoral human trafficking on December 9.
The accused identified as Newton Muthuri Kimani was staying in India on a student visa. The ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by the Anjuna police against two Nigerian nationals namely Isralite alias Dorcast Maria and Olokpa for their involvement in immoral human trafficking. The accused persons used to bring young African girls to Goa on the pretext of providing jobs in the Indian hospitality industry and force them into prostitution activities.
The ED investigation revealed that Kimani was managing multiple accounts in which certain amounts were being credited on behalf of various persons involved in running the immoral trafficking racket.
This money generated through illegal means, was being transferred to Kenya and other countries through the Mpesa app and some foreign bank accounts with help of some suspected Hawala operators. He had as many as nine QR codes which were given to brothel keepers, traffickers and the victims of immoral human trafficking.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the case registered by the Anjuna police following a complaint by NGO ARZ, the ED visited the Anjuna police station and took all the details pertaining to the case and probed into the matter. It was revealed that the Kimani was the main beneficiary of the spoils of the flesh trade.
Accordingly, a search operation was conducted in Anjuna during which one Kenyan national who was forced into immoral trafficking allegedly by Dorcast Maria was rescued along with another Kenyan girl. Further, on the basis of information gathered, three search operations were carried out in Gujarat and Punjab resulting in seizure of incriminating documents and digital devices.
Earlier, the police had stated that the Hawala racket was operating from Bengaluru and Chennai and now with more States surfacing it appears that the tentacles of this sex racket has spread far and wide across the country.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan national has been remanded in six days ED custody by the Panjim Court.
It is learnt that the ED is taking cognisance of matters when the money transactions crosses over Rs 1 crore and it is feared that this Hawala transactions could run into crores of rupees.
It may be recalled that in September this year, the Anjuna police had busted an international sex trafficking ring operating between Kenya and India and had arrested two Kenyans and rescued five women from Kenya.