The Ahmedabad Crime Branch, in a joint operation with Banaskantha Police, arrested Yunus, suspected kingpin and main supplier in an organized child kidnapping and trafficking racket, officials said on Wednesday. The arrest is connected to the trafficking of a 15-day-old infant rescued on January 29 and is considered a key breakthrough in the case.
A Crime Branch official said Yunus, a resident of Danta taluka, Banaskantha, was apprehended after sustained surveillance using human intelligence and technical analysis. Investigators believe he played a central role in sourcing infants and coordinating their movement through intermediaries operating across districts.
The case came to light after a joint team of the Gujarat Crime Branch and Anti-Terrorism Squad intercepted a vehicle near Ahmedabad airport and rescued the newborn allegedly being trafficked out of Gujarat. Three persons were arrested during that operation, while another suspect was detained for questioning. The infant underwent medical examination and was placed under the care of the Child Welfare Committee.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the accused had planned to transport the newborn to another state via road to avoid detection. Call detail record analysis and questioning of arrested suspects pointed to a larger network with interstate contacts, with Yunus emerging as the central link connecting local agents to buyers outside Gujarat.
Officials stated that such trafficking rackets often target vulnerable families, including those facing economic hardship. Multiple layers of middlemen are used to conceal identities, while payments are routed through informal channels, and infants are moved within days of birth to reduce the risk of recovery.
Police are investigating whether Yunus’ network is linked to other cases in North Gujarat and neighboring regions. Authorities are also tracing the biological parents of the rescued infant to determine if coercion or inducement was involved.
All accused have been booked under relevant criminal law and child protection statutes, and further arrests are not ruled out as the probe continues. The arrest of Yunus is expected to provide critical information about the scale of the trafficking operation, including the number of children involved and the routes used.
