Maharashtra's trafficking crisis deepens with 337 cases in 2024

Maharashtra remains one of India’s worst-affected states for human trafficking. In 2024, authorities recorded 337 cases, a rise from previous years. Sexual exploitation was the leading motive, with most victims trafficked for commercial purposes. Last year, 892 people were identified as trafficking victims in the state. Among them were 78 minors and 814 adults. A total of 885 victims were rescued, including 808 Indian nationals and 57 foreign nationals.

The majority of cases involved sexual exploitation, with 829 victims trafficked for this purpose. Other forms included forced labour, affecting 46 individuals, and forced marriage, involving four victims. Traffickers also targeted people for prostitution, domestic servitude, bonded labour, child marriage, organised begging, and the illegal sale of newborns.

Women, adolescent girls, and children were the most vulnerable groups. Despite strengthened anti-trafficking measures, organised criminal networks continued to operate. Authorities highlighted the need for stricter enforcement, better interstate coordination, and improved rehabilitation programmes to address the issue. Maharashtra reported 337 trafficking cases in 2024, up from 388 in 2023 and 295 in 2022. The state holds the second-highest number of cases in India. Strengthened measures and targeted interventions remain critical to combating trafficking networks.