The police are on the lookout for more suspects who allegedly recruited young women into an inter-district sex racket, which was exposed during a flash inspection at an apartment in the heart of Kozhikode city on June 6. According to the statements of the six rescued women, the prime suspects are reportedly operating similar rented facilities for sex trafficking in several other districts.
A police officer who was part of the flash inspection said one rescued woman provided details of the facilities in other districts, which would be verified for further legal action. He added that women from other States were also lured into the gang with promises of huge financial gains.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the racket operated under the claim that it was providing bystander support to needy patients in hospitals.
The statements of building owners who reportedly rented out the facility without verifying the tenants’ addresses will be further verified by the police. According to sources, some residents had raised concerns about strangers frequently visiting the apartment.
“The call detail records of the rescued women and the three men arrested in connection with the incident are expected to provide a clear picture of the racket’s network and those who contacted them. We have also collected CCTV footage from various locations,” said a police officer involved in the investigation. He added that the registration numbers of suspected vehicles found near the premises were under further verification.
The police found that one of the rescued women had allegedly been involved in a previously exposed sex racket in the State. They said her suspected role as an agent recruiting more vulnerable women into the sex trafficking network would be investigated. Bank account details of the rescued women and the three men would be examined to gather more evidence about the financial transactions, they added.
Published – June 08, 2025 08:13 pm IST
