In a decisive crackdown on human trafficking, Mumbai Police raided a hotel in Andheri East, exposing a brazen international sex racket. Two Ugandan women, lured to India with false job promises, were rescued from forced prostitution at Hotel Villa Palace on AK Road. The operation, triggered by a tip-off to Santacruz police station, revealed a sinister network exploiting vulnerable foreign nationals.
The victims, aged 30 and 36, were brought to Mumbai under the guise of employment opportunities. Instead, they were confined to the hotel and coerced into sex work. A Kenyan woman named Jasmine allegedly orchestrated their arrival, accommodation, and client arrangements, maintaining strict control over their movements.
Four hotel staff members—manager Vivekkumar Vaidyanath Yadav (26), Anil Kumar Jokoo Pushpakar (24), Dhiraj Madhukar Jawale (35), and Mahesh Rajpal Rajveria (45)—were arrested during the raid. Hotel owner Akshay Dilip Shedge and the fugitive Jasmine remain at large, with police intensifying their manhunt.
Investigators uncovered multiple violations, including failure to register foreign guests properly or submit mandatory C-forms. The women’s names were conspicuously absent from hotel records, pointing to deliberate concealment. CCTV footage has been seized for detailed analysis.
Authorities suspect this racket is part of a larger international human trafficking syndicate. ‘This is just the tip of the iceberg,’ a senior officer stated. Further probes could unravel more connections, leading to additional arrests and rescues. Mumbai Police vows to dismantle such exploitative operations citywide.