Mangaluru Police Crack Down on Human Trafficking Ring Involving Bangladeshi Nationals

In a significant crackdown, Mangaluru City Police have arrested two alleged human traffickers and coordinated with Kolkata Police to apprehend a key figure involved in smuggling Bangladeshi nationals into India. This operation follows the detention of several illegal immigrants at local construction sites. Authorities suspect a broader network is at play, potentially involving forged documents and local facilitators. As investigations continue, more arrests are anticipated, highlighting the ongoing issue of human trafficking in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 14, 2026, 12:21 IST

Police Arrest Human Traffickers in Mangaluru

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Mangaluru, July 14: Authorities in Mangaluru, Karnataka, have apprehended two suspected human trafficking operatives and facilitated the capture of a significant figure in Kolkata linked to a scheme that reportedly smuggled illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into India for employment in coastal Karnataka, as stated in an official report on Tuesday.

This development follows the recent detention of multiple illegal Bangladeshi workers at construction sites in Kuntikana and Kodial during a verification operation.

The police have initiated legal proceedings against three suspects: Moidin Islam, Rasul Islam, and Dilwar Hussain, all hailing from West Bengal. Investigators believe this trio managed an interstate human trafficking operation that unlawfully transported Bangladeshi nationals across the border, disguising them as migrant laborers from northern Indian states.

Moidin Islam and Dilwar Hussain were taken into custody during focused operations by the Mangaluru City Police. Information obtained during their questioning led to a collaboration with Kolkata Police to locate the third suspect, Rasul Islam.

Following the leads, Kolkata Police successfully arrested Rasul Islam in a coordinated effort. A specialized team from Mangaluru City Police has traveled to Kolkata to secure his custody via a transit warrant for further investigation in Mangaluru.

Senior police officials indicated that the suspects were allegedly involved in recruiting laborers for the construction and industrial sectors in coastal Karnataka, using the movement of legitimate migrant workers to mask the presence of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals.

Authorities suspect that the ongoing investigation may uncover further details about the trafficking network's operations, including the use of counterfeit identification documents, routes for cross-border infiltration, and potential local accomplices who aided the illegal immigrants in finding work and avoiding detection.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials anticipate additional arrests as they delve deeper into the trafficking network.

It is noteworthy that on Monday, Mangaluru city police intensified their crackdown on illegal immigrants, detaining 11 more Bangladeshi nationals found working at two construction sites in the city. This action follows a July 9 operation by Surathkal police, who intercepted eight illegal immigrants at a site in Mukka.

Acting on precise intelligence, a team from Urwa police station conducted a raid at a construction site in Kuntikana on Monday morning. After questioning three laborers and reviewing their documentation, officers confirmed their illegal residency in the country. Concurrently, another police team inspected a construction site in Kodial, where 11 individuals were interrogated, revealing that eight were undocumented Bangladeshi nationals.

City police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy announced that a detailed report is being sent to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to obtain formal detention and deportation orders. He also mentioned that criminal cases would be filed against a middleman from West Bengal who allegedly trafficked these individuals into Mangaluru to integrate them with local migrant laborers.