Ahmedabad Crime Branch, in coordination with Banaskantha Police, has arrested Yunus, identified as the suspected kingpin of an organised child trafficking network, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The arrest is a major breakthrough in the case involving the rescue of a 15-day-old infant on January 29, shedding light on the operations of the racket.

Yunus, a resident of Danta taluka in Banaskantha, was apprehended following sustained surveillance and intelligence-led operations. Investigators allege he played a central role in sourcing infants and coordinating their movement through a network of intermediaries across multiple districts.

The case came to light after police intercepted a vehicle near Ahmedabad airport, rescuing the newborn and arresting three suspects, while another person was detained for questioning. The infant was medically examined and placed under the care of the Child Welfare Committee.

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Further investigation, including Call Detail Record analysis, revealed a broader network operating across state lines, with Yunus allegedly linking local agents to buyers in other states. Police officials noted that such rackets often exploit vulnerable families, using multiple middlemen to conceal identities and route payments through informal channels.

Authorities are now probing whether Yunus’ network was involved in other similar cases in north Gujarat and neighbouring regions. Efforts are also underway to trace the biological parents of the rescued infant and determine if coercion or inducement was involved in the crime.

All accused have been booked under relevant child protection and criminal law provisions. Police have indicated that Yunus’ arrest is likely to lead to further disclosures regarding the scale of the trafficking operation, the number of children affected, and the routes used to transport them.

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