In a significant move against human trafficking, Mumbai Police have dismantled an international sex trafficking operation at a hotel in Andheri East. Two Ugandan women, enticed to India under false job promises, were reportedly coerced into prostitution. Four hotel employees have been apprehended, while the hotel proprietor and a Kenyan woman, suspected as a key figure in the racket, are currently on the run.
The crackdown ensued following a complaint filed by a female officer at the Santacruz police station. Acting on confidential information regarding suspicious activities at Hotel Villa Palace on AK Road in Andheri (East), the police conducted a raid on the premises. The operation unearthed alarming details, indicating that the two Ugandan women, aged 30 and 36, were brought to India with assurances of employment but were allegedly held captive at the hotel and forced into the sex trade.
Authorities revealed that a Kenyan national named Jasmine played a pivotal role in facilitating the women’s journey to Mumbai, arranging their stay, and managing client interactions. The victims’ movements were reportedly tightly controlled. Additionally, investigations exposed severe breaches of regulations concerning foreign nationals, with the hotel management failing to maintain proper records of overseas guests and neglecting to submit mandatory documentation as required by law.
During the raid, the police arrested hotel manager Vivekkumar Vaidyanath Yadav (26) and housekeeping staff members Anilkumar Joku Pushpakar (24), Dheeraj Madhukar Jawale (35), and Mahesh Rajpal Rajwaria (45). Efforts are underway to locate the hotel owner, Akshay Dilip Shedge, and the absconding Kenyan individual, Jasmine. Surveillance footage from the hotel has been confiscated for thorough examination. Authorities suspect a broader international human trafficking network beyond this single establishment, hinting at potential further disclosures and arrests as the inquiry advances.
