Revisiting a decade-old investigation led to freedom for 3 women and the arrest of 4 traffickers in India

The Exodus Road’s teams of global investigators have been some of the most persistent in the world, continually learning to be more effective in ending trafficking on a large scale. We’ve learned a lot in the process, adapting our methods to apply creativity and tenacity to a complex crime. 

Tragically, trafficking rarely fully disappears: it is far more likely to shapeshift. This is what happened in a case where we re-investigated the same hotel we’d helped police raid in India 10 years ago.

In fact, The Exodus Road India’s investigators found that one of the very same traffickers who had been arrested in 2016 was back at it, clandestinely transforming his operation to traffic more women. Working with several accomplices, he had three women under his control, trapping them inside the hotel where he sold them to paying customers.

Trafficking rarely fully disappears: it is far more likely to shapeshift. This is what happened in a case where we re-investigated the same hotel we’d helped police raid in India 10 years ago. (AI Image representative)

But The Exodus Road has been working in India for a long time now. Our expert investigative team knows to follow up on cases, even if they’ve seemingly been resolved before.

That’s how, a full decade later, a second operation led to the arrest of four traffickers and freedom for these three women. The women are now in the care of government aftercare services. Because it’s a second offense, the traffickers are unlikely to be able to get bail, and sentencing will be harsh. 

A decade later, the hotel-based brothel has been closed — this time, hopefully, for good.

This is why it’s worth showing up for the long-term, which is only possible with the momentum provided by The Exodus Road’s community!