They came from different places neighboring the country of India. Each ended up trapped within the same two hotels deep in an Indian red-light district.
Those buildings held terrible abuse for these women. Led there by the promise of legitimate, reputable work, they were forced to offer sexual services to customers instead. They never saw the earnings from the unending stream of buyers.
During a routine investigation, scouring the red-light district for evidence of trafficking, The Exodus Road’s team in India heard rumors that a large group of women had recently arrived. Immediately, we collected all the details our law enforcement partners needed to act. Fortunately, years of collaboration has built a strong partnership with police in the area, and we were able to support them as they mobilized.
Law enforcement raided both hotel-based brothels simultaneously, discovering about a dozen women. A government social worker cared for the survivors, soothing their fears as they were transported to a safe house where they can begin to recover from their trauma and move towards repatriation.
15 traffickers from the network that had been exploiting these women were arrested. They are all facing serious fines alongside prison sentences ranging from 8-10 years. This ring is dismantled, and their exploitative ploy has ended.
One investigator on The Exodus Road’s India team said this, reflecting on the role of partnership in the case’s success:
“Collaboration ensures that information flows smoothly, resources are pooled efficiently, and actions are coordinated effectively. It fosters a unified front against such heinous crimes. The commitment to continuous collaboration and close cooperation with law enforcement is commendable and essential in the fight against human trafficking.”
