Kenyan Woman Rescued from Traffickers in India After False Job Promise

Indian Police on Friday rescued a Kenyan woman who had been lured to India with the promise of a better job only to find herself sold into sex work in a harrowing tale of human trafficking.

She successfully eluded her captors after which the Indian authorities were able to rescue her. She had travelled to India with the expectation of securing a job at a grocery store but instead fell victim to a deceitful scheme that forced her into the sex trade. She was held captive at the residence of an Indian national who collaborated with other Kenyans involved in the criminal operation.

In the bustling streets of Chennai, a city located in the southern part of India, the woman was found near a bus station after managing to break free from her captors. Displaying immense bravery, she recounts her harrowing journey to the police at the Kilpauk station in Chennai, expressing her urgent need for work to fund her return to Kenya. The Kenyan woman, now under the care of a non-governmental organization-run hostel, shares critical information about the Indian human trafficker and other wanted suspects.

Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against those involved in this heinous crime. Having arrived in India in August 2023 on a tourist visa, the victim’s visa was valid until July of the current year. The police have reached out to the Kenyan High Commission in Delhi to facilitate her safe return to Kenya.

This incident highlights the pervasive issue of Kenyans being promised lucrative jobs abroad only to be ensnared in illicit activities such as prostitution or drug syndicates. Sadly, this case is not isolated, as similar situations involving Kenyan victims have been reported in the past. In a related development, Indian authorities arrested a Kenyan individual in December for duping fellow countrymen with promises of job opportunities, subsequently selling them to various criminal syndicates.

The accused is being charged with multiple offences, including human trafficking and money laundering. The recent enforcement actions taken by Indian law enforcement against illegal sexual activities are a direct response to the increase in online adult content. These efforts aim to combat and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by addressing and curtailing illicit practices.