Vadodara: The Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Anand on Saturday arrested three Mumbai-based travel agents for allegedly trafficking a man and woman from Anand district to Azerbaijan on the false promise of sending them to the US through illegal routes.The police arrested Mamta Gavit (48) of Virar, Kailash Soni (45) of Dahisar, and Daniel Montero (48) of Andheri. Police said efforts are on to trace two others named in the FIR.Earlier this week, a complaint was registered at Anand Town police station after Dhruv Patel (22) from Jhankhariya village and Dipika Patel (32) from Vasad were lured abroad and held hostage in Baku, Azerbaijan.Investigators said the duo was promised passage to the US via Canada but was instead flown to Azerbaijan. Soon after arrival, their phones were switched off, and they were allegedly confined and threatened. The accused allegedly made video calls to the victims’ families, issuing threats of violence and warning of possible organ trafficking if ransom demands were not met.Under pressure, the families transferred around Rs 65 lakh, including payments through cryptocurrency channels, in hopes of securing their release.The families then approached Anand MP Mitesh Patel, who took up the matter with the ministry of external affairs (MEA), seeking urgent intervention. Following coordination between the MEA and the Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan, the two were traced and shifted to safety at the Indian Embassy in Baku. They are currently under embassy protection, and arrangements are under way for their return to India.LCB sleuths are now probing the wider trafficking network and tracking the money trail.
