Lucknow: Police in Lucknow have arrested an Uzbekistan national, identified as Lola Kayumova, in connection with a high‑profile probe into an alleged sex trafficking racket that investigators say involved bringing foreign women into the city, the use of fake documents and suspected plastic surgery to alter victims' appearances before forcing them into prostitution.
Arrest after intelligence tip, year‑long search
Officials said Kayumova was detained by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) after a search lasting nearly a year and was subsequently handed over to local police for questioning. Investigating agencies said they have obtained information suggesting Kayumova had been living in Lucknow illegally after a secret marriage and that a lookout notice had earlier been issued for her in Uzbekistan.
The probe began in June 2025, when a team from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) raided an apartment in Lucknow and detained two foreign women, named in official records as Holida and Nilofar. Authorities say the two were allegedly associated with Kayumova.
Scope of the alleged network under scrutiny
Police said details gathered at the time of Kayumova's questioning have prompted investigators to examine a wider network that may have facilitated trafficking from Uzbekistan and Nepal into Lucknow. The probe is focusing on:
- the movement and recruitment of foreign women into the city;
- the alleged use of forged or fake documents to conceal identities and movements;
- a possible medical component, with investigators probing whether a doctor performed cosmetic surgery to change the women's appearances;
- the housing and exploitation of victims, reportedly in flats located in upscale areas of Lucknow.
Authorities said they are working to establish the full extent of Kayumova's links with networks operating in Uzbekistan and Nepal and to identify any other persons who may be part of the operation.
Official actions so far
The case originated with the FRRO raid in June 2025; that action led to the identification of the two foreign women and information that triggered the larger investigation. After the IB located Kayumova, she was taken into custody and questioned for several hours, police said. Officials added that the agencies are now following up on leads that emerged during that interrogation.
| Timeline | Action |
|---|---|
| June 2025 | FRRO raid on Lucknow apartment; two foreign women detained |
| Over the following year | Search for alleged ringleader, identified as Kayumova |
| August 2026 | IB detains Kayumova; handed to local police for questioning |
Investigation priorities and public interest
Investigators emphasised the importance of determining whether the allegations of plastic surgery and document forgery are substantiated, given the serious implications for victims' safety and for cross‑border trafficking investigations. Confirming medical involvement would add a clinical angle to what authorities describe as an organised exploitation scheme.
Police and the FRRO are coordinating to verify immigration records, examine any travel and visa documentation, and trace the housing arrangements in the city where the women were reportedly kept. Officials said agency teams are also pursuing leads about contacts and facilitators both inside and outside India.
Legal and consular aspects
The case has potential consular dimensions because the primary accused is an Uzbekistan national and the detained women are foreign nationals. Authorities did not release details about consular notifications; standard procedure in such cases typically involves informing the relevant foreign missions where nationality and diplomatic protocols require it.
As the probe continues, police said they will seek to identify any additional victims and those responsible for recruitment, transportation and exploitation. No charges have been detailed publicly yet beyond the initial detention and ongoing investigation.
The arrest has drawn attention to trafficking risks involving foreign nationals in the state capital and has prompted a multi‑agency response as investigators work to map the alleged network's structure and reach.
Further developments were expected as inquiries progress and as police review records, question additional witnesses and examine forensic and documentary evidence gathered during raids and interrogations.
