Mumbai Police Apprehend Prominent Agent Linked to Cryptocurrency Marketing Scheme

Mumbai, 19th March 2024: In Mumbai, a prominent agent, sought in connection with a scheme that enticed numerous young individuals to Thailand under false pretences of IT employment and coerced them into cryptocurrency marketing, was apprehended upon his arrival from Dubai early Monday morning. Immigration officials immediately flagged Niraj Gelaram Sachdev’s passport as a Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against him by the Mumbai Police.

Unit 9 officers verified Sachdev’s identity, detained him, and presented him before the court, which subsequently granted police custody. Last year, Liberian citizen Green Benedict Emmanual was arrested in connection with the case.

Police disclosed that Sachdev was among the seven wanted suspects who had sought refuge abroad, prompting the issuance of an LOC against him. Sachdev and his associates operated under a Chinese national known as “Monster” or Chiu, who orchestrated the global employment racket. Victims were lured to Thailand with promises of lucrative IT jobs but were coerced into cryptocurrency marketing under threat.

While the syndicate deceived numerous aspiring youths from India, the Mumbai case specifically involves three individuals who were sent to Myanmar. There, they were forcibly engaged in cryptocurrency marketing or faced a demand of $6,000 for their release.

In September 2022, Shahbaz Khan, Yakoob Sayyed, and Sajid Sayyed from Mumbai were promised positions as “chat process sales agents” by Emmanual. They were assured jobs in the customer service department of a cryptocurrency company in Thailand. However, upon arrival, they were swiftly transported to Myanmar, where their passports were seized, and they were confined in a heavily guarded bunker. When they expressed reluctance to work, they were given the ultimatum of marketing cryptocurrency for six months or paying $6,000 for their freedom.

One of the captives managed to clandestinely contact his family, prompting his brother Mansoori to file a complaint with the Bandra police, which was then taken up by the crime branch unit 9. Emmanual, upon being confronted by Mansoori, attempted to flee Mumbai, but his efforts were thwarted by the issuance of an LOC, resulting in his arrest at the airport.