*Hyderabad* – A shocking case of human trafficking and cybercrime has come to light as a 23-year-old from Hyderabad, Syed Saleemuddin, revealed his harrowing ordeal after being lured to Laos under the pretense of a lucrative job offer. Saleemuddin, along with others, was trafficked to Laos, where he was forced into cybercrime activities, including scamming individuals through fraudulent investments, honeytraps, and cryptocurrency fraud. Saleemuddin, a former Rapido worker and resident of Yakutpura, filed a complaint with the Telangana Cyber Crime Police on September 5, detailing his experience. His story began in April when a neighborhood acquaintance introduced him to Syed Abdul Sami, who offered him a well-paying job in Laos with an initial salary of ₹70,000 per month. Assured of flight tickets, a work visa, and accommodation, Saleemuddin and his friend Mohd Javeed paid ₹30,000 each to Sami’s father in Hyderabad to secure the job.On May 1, Saleemuddin and Javeed departed for Laos, unaware of the nightmare that awaited them. After arriving in Vientiane, they were taken to the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Ton Pheung District, Bokeo Province, where their passports were confiscated. They soon realized they had been deceived into working for a company called YING XIN PROPERTY, which was running large-scale cybercrime operations.The victims were forced to participate in scamming Indians in the US, UK, and Canada through fake cryptocurrency exchanges and fraudulent investment schemes. Saleemuddin and others, who initially refused to engage in these illegal activities, were subjected to brutal punishments, including electric shocks, forced physical exertion, and confinement. The conditions were so dire that their captors locked them in their rooms after 5 pm, and the food provided was barely edible.In a desperate bid to escape, Saleemuddin and two others managed to contact the Indian Embassy through survivors from Rajasthan. With the help of embassy officials, they were eventually released, having their passports returned after nine days of detention. Saleemuddin and his companions crossed a river by boat to Thailand and finally flew back to Hyderabad on July 24.This case highlights the growing issue of human trafficking and cyber slavery, where victims are exploited for illegal online activities. Authorities are now investigating the involvement of local agents and are working to prevent further instances of such crimes.