Embassy of India

REPATRIATION OF 25 INDIAN NATIONALS BACK TO INDIA

The Embassy of India in Antananarivo has successfully repatriated 25 Indian nationals from Madagascar to India. These 25 Indians, along with 59 other foreign nationals were apprehended by Madagascar police, and thereafter placed in the administrative detention of Malagasy immigration. It was conveyed to the Embassy that these individuals were allegedly victims of human trafficking, and were brought to Madagascar on the pretext of lucrative employment.

With these 25 Indians under administrative detention, Mission had continued to engage with the local government in all stakeholder agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Justice and the Chief of Immigration to ensure their early repatriation back to India. Moreover, Immigration had later referred the case to the judicial authority of Madagascar. Following the due proceedings, a judgement was passed by the Tribunal of Antananarivo in July 2026 acquitting all the Indian nationals held in detention.

With the sustained efforts of the Mission, the 25 Indian nationals in captivity were finally released by the Immigration Authorities in the first week of Aug 2026 and all of them have now returned to India, with the last batch of Indians travelling on 12 Aug 2026. Embassy of India, Antananarivo also made travel arrangements for some of these Indians who were unable to bear the cost of passage, on means- tested basis.

Antananarivo

13.08.2026